UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed his concerns [press release] Wednesday regarding Indian and Pakistani authorities refusing to allow the Human Rights Council access to Kashmir. The High Commissioner emphasized the importance of access to the region after recent allegations of excessive force, state sponsorship of violence, as well as the number of people killed and injured. According to Zeid, unhindered access to these affected areas is critical for the Human Rights Council to interview victims and witnesses in order to document and provide an accurate account of the situation.

In July Pakistani Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz [official profile] announced [press release] his country’s intention to ask the UN Human Rights Council to send a fact-finding mission to Kashmir following recent civil unrest in the disputed region. Pakistan accused [JURIST report] India of human rights violations after a clash between the Indian army and pro-independence rebels, which led to the death of militant commander Burhan Wani of the group Hizbul Mujahideen [official website]. Continued unrest following the clash preceded the use of force on which Pakistan now seeks Human Rights Council action.