India taking steps to protect human rights in Kashmir: UN

“Leaders of the Indian Government have also been discussing among themselves and taking necessary measures,first of all,to ensure the stability and prevent violence there and also protect human rights,” the UN Secretary General said.

Ban’s remarks came after he was asked about allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir.

“I think that for that (alleged human rights violations) issue,my Spokesperson has been answering many times and I think I also gave my answer to that.

“I would like to find out about specific cases – I am not aware but maybe I’ll have my Spokesperson let you know,” Ban said when asked about allegations of torture in jails.

In a rare briefing with the then US ambassador to India,the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2005 had expressed concern over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and spoke about torture in detention centres,though it pointed out that the situation was much better than in the 1990s.

The International Committee for the Red Cross stressed that it was not asking for US government action,but may seek to mobilise support in the future,”if its relations with the GOI (government of India) do not improve,” says the secret cable coming out of the US Embassy in New Delhi.

Made public by WikiLeaks,the cable signed off by the then US Ambassador to India David Mulford,is dated April 6,2010 and has been classified by the then Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Blake,who now is the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.