United Nations (PTI) India and Pakistan clashed over Kashmir in the economic and social council with New Delhi rejecting charges of repression in valley and firmly telling Islamabad to stop supporting terrorism in the state for short term gains.

Indian representative Sujata Mehta warmed Pakistan that its assistance to terrorism in the state struck at the very roots of bilateral harmony and cooperation which New Delhi is striving to promote.

It was the first major verbal confrontation between the two countries in the world body this year.

Pakistan Ambassador Jamsheed K A Marker selectively quoted from human rights and press reports to buttress his charges of massive violations of human rights killings torture and rape against Indian security forces fighting secessionist’s elements in the state.

Describing Marker’s charges as ‘groundless’ and his statements as ‘misrepresentations’ Sujata Mehta said these did not alter the reality that Pakistan’s instigation and support to terrorism is the ‘primary and principal’ source of human rights violations.

On Wednesday a representative of the world Muslim congress Vigar A Hamdani had charged India with violations of human rights torture burning of houses rape and ‘violent attacks’ on peaceful demonstrations

Hamdani also demanded that a U N representative be sent to the state to investigate the charges. Rejecting Hamdani’s charges Mchia said no responsible government could allow its citizens to be victimised by externally ‘instigated and sustained” terrorist groups.

The ‘groundless’ accusations of human rights violations raised by Pakistan only allied it with the terrorist menace in Jammu and Kashmir she said. ‘No amount of obfuscation can justify such an alliance’ she said.

Mehta told the committee that the problem arose from Pakistan’s illegal occupation of a part of Kashmir and its unwillingness to cease hostile activities against India from that territory as well as from elsewhere in that country.

Reiterating that India is wedded to upholding human rights and its laws had ample safeguards against any violation she said the government also considered it its duty to defend the innocents against terrorism.

Mehta drew the attention of the Pakistani delegation to “New York Times” correspondent Barbara Crossett’s statement at the Asia society meeting in Washington that she had been shown camps in occupied Kashmir where militants were given training.

She also drew the Pakistani delegations attention to an American state department report that there were continuing ‘credible reports’ throughout 1991 of official Pakistani support for Kashmiri and Sikh militants in India.

“Marker called for the implementation of U.N. Resolutions which 3 sought self-determination for Kashmir.

He rejected that Pakistan is interfering in Kashmir calling it an attempt by India to deflect attention from the ‘massive and indigenous nature of the uprising’ in the state.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992