Kashmir

That this House affirms that UK foreign policy should promote human rights internationally; expresses concern regarding the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan both nuclear powers, which makes Kashmir the number one security concern in the world; notes the recent conflict between India and China which exacerbates that concern; states that the 2018 and 2019 Report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the revocation in August 2019 of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the recent Amnesty International Annual Report and continuing reports of human rights abuses, restrictions to communications, peaceful dissent and key freedoms, are a cause for alarm particularly at a time when governments are responding to the covid-19 pandemic; and therefore urges both the Indian and Pakistani governments to enter into dialogue for the development of a sustainable peace and reconciliation with the Kashmiri people at the heart of this peace process; and further calls on the UK Government in collaboration with the UN, the Commonwealth and wider international community, to provide the necessary support to enable that peace process to happen.