THIS is with reference to the report ‘Those responsible for crimes against civilians in Myanmar will be brought to account: UN’ (Nov 7). It is good to know that United Nations is investigating serious crimes committed by the Myanmar regime against its civilians.

However, the UN would have been admired and appreciated by the world community had it also decided to probe the brutalities being committed in Palestine and India-occupied Kashmir.

Israel has been involved in ruthless and inhumane policy of brutal massacre of innocent Palestinians, occupying their lands and causing every atrocity one can imagine, and then some more.

Likewise, India has unleashed a reign of terror and barbarity against Kashmiris in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for more than seven decades, and things have gone worse under the fascist Modi government.

Thousands of women in the occupied valley have been widowed, and thousands of children have been orphaned by the Indian security forces. To make things worse, the government also scrapped Article 370 of the Indian constitution which gave Kashmir a special status.

Even today, the Indian government does not allow international media to visit occupied Kashmir, which is a disputed area under the relevant UN documents. The UN has a moral duty to include Palestine and occupied Jammu and Kashmir in its investigation of crimes against humanity instead of limiting its investigation to Myanmar.

In case the UN chose to ignore the Palestine and Kashmir issues, there will be questions about its credibility like there were about its predecessor, the League of Nations, which was disbanded in 1946 after it failed to achieve its objectives.

Jawaid Mannan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2021