ISLAMABAD, March 23: After prolonged negotiations, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has adopted the Kashmir Report incorporating ‘compromise amendments’ that underscore the importance of UN Resolutions, call for demilitarisation and end to human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir.
Although the report was passed by the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, many European parliamentarians, who proposed more than 400 amendments, have declared that they would seek further changes to the report before it is presented to the plenary of the European Parliament in May.
The initial draft report prepared by Baroness Emma Nicholson and titled ‘Kashmir: present situation and future prospects’ was extensively criticised in Pakistan and in Kashmiri circles worldwide for presenting a lop-sided view and being pro-India. Apart from the Kashmiri diaspora, particularly in Europe, it was challenged even by the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) when it was submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee in November 2006. The draft report had brushed aside calls for a plebiscite on the final status of Jammu and Kashmir calling it “wholly out of step” ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions. However, the amended report supports Kashmiris’ demand for the right to self determination.
The new report calls for demilitarisation and recognizes “the aspiration of the Kashmiri people for a significantly reduced military presence on both sides of the LOC.” It also seeks an end to all extra-judicial killings by the Indian army and paramilitary forces and asks the Indian government to allow the international human rights organisations to visit Jammu and Kashmir to document and monitor human rights situation.
