Entire Jammu & Kashmir is integral part of India: Indian Envoy at UN

Geneva [Switzerland], Sept. 14 (ANI): India on Wednesday, taking a strong stand on Jammu and Kashmir, told the UN that the entire region is an integral part of India and that Pakistan has illegally occupied the certain part of the territory, asserting that the use of phrase "Indian administered Kashmir" is an artificial one. The remarks were made by Ajit Kumar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to United Nations during the 33rd regular session of UN human right council here. "I made it very clear that the entire Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and what remains actually is the vacation of the illegal territory occupied by Pakistan also the use of phrase "Indian administered Kashmir" is an artificial one, " Kumar told ANI. His response came a day after United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein requested both India and Pakistan to give "unconditional access" to both sides to conduct independent probes into the Kashmir and Balochistan unrest. Kumar added that Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India represents all sections for people unlike Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Maintaining that the whole problem of Kashmir is due to that fact of cross border terrorism, Kumar said that he told before the UN, that it because Islamabad is sending terrorists which are mingling with the crowd using children as shields. "Pakistan is sending terrorists which are mingling with the crowd using children as shields and that we are trying to tackle, and India being world largest democracy has its own means and all party delegation has visited (Kashmir)," he added. On the Kashmir issue, Kumar said that the forces have shown maximum restraints were also raised before at the session. "I also said that our forces have shown maximum restrains as 7000 of them have been injured. So all in all, the entire political spectrum is working very hard and the situation is gradually coming to the normal. This is what I explained in my statement in response to what High Commissioner mentioned about situation in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday," he added. Earlier, addressing at the session, Kumar pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir has an elected democratic government that represents all sections of the people unlike the situation in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. He also pointed out that current violence in Jammu and Kashmir has been choreographed from across the border since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Normal life remained affected for over 66 consecutive days in violence-hit Kashmir. More than 80 people have been killed and thousands have been left injured in the aftermath of the July 8 encounter in which Wani was killed by the security forces. While pointing out that India has been appreciative of the High Commissioner's efforts at improving efficiency and streamlining OHCHR's work, Kumar said that New Delhi remains concerned at persisting ambiguities in OHCHR governance and administrative arrangements. He asserted that the High Commissioner's proposed Change Initiative requires more clarity and a detailed response to ACABQ's queries in this regard would be a good place to start. (ANI)