AhlulBayt News Agency - India is set to politely reject a UNHRC move to send a team to Jammu and Kashmir, pointing out that the domestic human rights panel was already at work while other institutions like Parliament and the Supreme Court had also discussed the situation in the state.
A carefully worded response, while noting that a visit by a UN Human Rights Council team is not required, will explain several measures the Indian government has taken to restore normalcy in J&K besides pointing to Pakistan's overt role in aggravating the situation in Kashmir by way of its open support to organisations instigating violence in India.
The UNHRC letter to India follows Pakistan raising the issue of alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.
India is likely to point out that its domestic oversight processes are robust with the National Human Rights Commission empowered to examine the situation in J&K. The Supreme Court is also hearing petitions relating to the situation in the state.
Parliament has discussed the J&K events in detail with political parties offering views and suggestions. All this, India is likely to inform the UNHRC, does not warrant a visit by a commission team.
India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full. New Delhi controls two-thirds of Kashmir, while the remaining one-third is under Islamabad's rule. The two nuclear rivals have fought two wars over the disputed territory.
India accuses Pakistan of providing pro-independence militants with arms and sending them across the borderline to launch attacks on Indian forces.
On Friday, the Indian government expanded the curfew to block a rally planned by pro-independence activists who went ahead with the protest in Srinagar anyway after Friday prayers. Indian troops detained several of the demonstrators.
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