UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council, said that an international probe was “needed crucially” in Kashmir and requested that India and Pakistan allow teams from his office to visit the India-Administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.



Hussein said they had received reports of excessive force used against civilians on the Indian side.

However, India hit back saying the violence was “choreographed from across the border”. It also questioned Hussein’s reference to Indian and Pakistan-administered areas, stating that the entire J&K is an integral part of India.

Hussein informed that while Pakistan has acceded to his request for a visit to its side, India had yet to do so.

India, in its reply, sharply rebutted Hussein’s reference to India and Pakistan - administered Kashmir. It said the whole State of J&K is an integral part of India and “Pakistan remains in illegal occupation of a part of our territory. The two cannot and should not be equated”. India also reminded Hussein that J&K has an elected democratic government, but that is not the case on the Pakistani side.

Regarding Hussein’s request for unconditional access to both sides of the LoC, India said its robust democratic institutions and processes have sufficient tools for redressal of grievances.

With inputs from IANS.