Labour MP Imran Hussain has led a group of 70 fellow parliamentarians in calling on the United Nations to take further action over the escalating human rights and political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Hussain, the MP for Bradford East and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, wrote to UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressing “deep concern” over recent developments in the region.
The letter, dated 21 August and copied to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warns of reports of deaths and injuries, restrictions on communications, arbitrary arrests, disruption to essential supplies and limits on peaceful civic and political expression.
Hussain and the parliamentarians say British Kashmiris have also expressed growing anxiety about relatives and loved ones in the region.
The letter welcomes recent interventions by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, including calls for calm, meaningful and inclusive political dialogue, full internet access, respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and impartial investigations into deaths linked to the unrest.
However, the parliamentarians argue that the situation now requires “sustained international engagement” to support de-escalation, accountability and a peaceful way forward.
They are calling on the UN and its agencies to help:
- end the bloodshed and prevent further loss of life;
- restore and protect access to communications;
- ensure food, medicines and other essential supplies can move without restriction;
- bring an end to arbitrary arrests and ensure due process and access to legal representation;
- facilitate access for independent human rights observers and those able to support peaceful mediation; and
- encourage the immediate resumption of peaceful dialogue alongside full and impartial accountability for deaths, injuries and any excessive use of force.
The letter states:
“Human rights can never be disputed or compromised. Lasting stability cannot be achieved through restrictions or confrontation.”
It adds that any long-term solution must allow “the rights and legitimate concerns of the Kashmiri people” to be heard and respected.
Hussain and his colleagues also raise the wider unresolved Kashmir dispute, citing the UN’s historic role, including Security Council Resolution 47 and subsequent resolutions.
They ask the Secretary-General to outline what further action the Security Council and wider UN system are prepared to take to encourage de-escalation and dialogue and support renewed efforts towards a peaceful settlement in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
The letter concludes:
“The people of Kashmir deserve peace, dignity, fundamental rights and a future free from recurring instability.”
Alongside Hussain, the 70 parliamentarians backing the intervention are:
Tahir Ali MP, Diane Abbott MP, Debbie Abrahams MP, Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Antonia Bance MP, Paula Barker MP, Lee Barron MP, Lorraine Beavers MP, Apsana Begum MP, Hilary Benn MP, Clive Betts MP, Baroness Christine Blower, Richard Burgon MP, Ian Byrne MP, Liam Byrne MP, Sarah Champion MP, Jacob Collier MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Stella Creasy MP, Lord Bryn Davies, Anna Dixon MP, Neil Duncan Jordan MP, Cat Eccles MP, Will Forster MP, Gill Furniss MP, Allison Gardner MP, Mary Glindon MP, Fabian Hamilton MP, Lord John Hendy, Chris Hinchliff MP, Lord Qurban Hussain, Kim Johnson MP, Warinder Juss MP, Ayoub Khan MP, Ian Lavery MP, Chris Law MP, Brian Leishman MP, Clive Lewis MP, Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Rachael Maskell MP, Andy McDonald MP, John McDonnell MP, Abtisam Mohamed MP, Iqbal Mohamed MP, Lord Shafaq Mohammed, Graham Morris MP, Brendan O’Hara MP, Simon Opher MP, Kate Osborne MP, Andrew Pakes MP, Jess Phillips MP, Richard Quigley MP, Andrew Ranger MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Naz Shah MP, Gareth Snell MP, Alex Sobel MP, Zarah Sultana MP, John Trickett MP, Karl Turner MP, Baroness Manzila Uddin, Chris Webb MP, Lord Prem Sikka, Manuela Perteghella MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Layla Moran MP, Clive Efford MP, David Williams MP, Andrew George MP and Kerry McCarthy MP.
The cross-party intervention represents a significant parliamentary call for renewed international engagement, with Hussain urging the UN to use its diplomatic mechanisms to help secure de-escalation, dialogue and the protection of fundamental rights in Kashmir.
