UN experts urge India to restore internet and social media services in Jammu and Kashmir

11 May 2017 – Raising alarm over the impact of internet and social media restrictions imposed by authorities in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, United Nations human rights experts have called on the Government to protect the right to freedom of expression and to pursue an open and democratic dialogue to address the region's social and political conflicts.

Denying such access disrupts the free exchange of ideas and the ability of individuals to connect with one another and associate peacefully on matters of shared concernSpecial Rapporetur Michel Forst

In a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression and Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders stressed that the scope of the restrictions also undermined “the Government's stated aim of preventing dissemination of information that could lead to violence.”

“The internet and telecommunications bans have the character of collective punishment [and] fail to meet the standards required under international human rights law to limit freedom of expression,” said Mr. Kaye in the news release.

“Denying such access disrupts the free exchange of ideas and the ability of individuals to connect with one another and associate peacefully on matters of shared concern,” added Mr. Forst.

The ban was imposed on 17 April following widespread student demonstrations.

According to information from the media and individuals in Kashmir, the Government blocked access to 22 websites and applications, including the messaging service WhatsApp, and social media Facebook and Twitter, noted the news release.

According to information from the media and individuals in Kashmir, the Government blocked access to 22 websites and applications, including the messaging service WhatsApp, and social media Facebook and Twitter, noted the news release.

Denying such access disrupts the free exchange of ideas and the ability of individuals to connect with one another and associate peacefully on matters of shared concernSpecial Rapporetur Michel Forst

3G and 4G internet data services for mobile phones and other devices have also been suspended.

The news release also noted that since 2012, there have been an estimated 31 reported cases of social media and internet bans in the Indian state and such developments seemed to be a worrying pattern aimed at curbing protests and social unrest in the region.

“We call on the Indian authorities to guarantee freedom of expression in Jammu and Kashmir and to seek a solution for the social and political conflicts of the region through an open, transparent and democratic dialogue,” the experts said.

Further in the release, the human rights experts also recalled the concerns raised by the UN Human Rights Council – the central inter-governmental body within the UN system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe – over online disruptions and the call upon UN Member States to avoid such shutdowns.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work

Osama Bin Laden

By: Maqsood Ahmad 

Srinagar, 14 May: Pakistan has all along aligned itself with the US and NATO mainly for economic reasons and Kashmir policy as it is a historical fact that during the cold war era, India was aligned both militarily and otherwise also with the Soviet block and used to derive all kind of support from the Soviet Union particularly on Kashmir.

Soviet Union used to veto all resolutions moved in the UN Security Council on Kashmir and other Indo Pak issues in India's favour. After the disintegration of Soviet Union, it was expected that Pakistan would get all out support from the Western Block particularly the US in getting all its disputes with India particularly on Kashmir settled and would ensure implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir. Not only Pakistan but we Kashmiris also generated high hopes that our dispute  would get settled and we would be allowed to exercise of Right to Self Determination for determining the future political set up of our territory in accordance with the UN Resolutions.

Unfortunately this did not happen but instead it was US that blocked all chances Pakistan got in forcing a settlement of Kashmir dispute with India such as during the 1962 India’s China War when Pakistan was pressurized by the US not to bring any kind of military pressure on India to get the Kashmir dispute settled and also during the Kargil war when the US forced Pakistan to cease fire and return to the original positions held by it.

Besides, the US also used Pakistan against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan without giving it anything in return and has been using Pakistan against Taliban whom the US used to address as Mujahideen  when they were fighting the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, and are now calling them as terrorists. Not only that, instead of supporting Pakistan in getting its problems with India particularly on Kashmir  resolved, it is showing a tilt towards India for its economic considerations as well as its Anti Muslim and Anti Islam and Anti Kashmir policies. The United States went all out against Taliban and Osama bin Laden and killed thousands of innocent and unarmed Afghan men women and children through drone attacks on civilian population, travelers and jirgas which has even been acknowledged by the puppet ruler of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. They killed hundreds of Civilians in  Waziristan area of Pakistan with these drone attacks. . What action it took against its forces. What action US took against the killers of thousands of Muslims by Modi & Co in Gujrat and Indian security forces in Kashmir. Just denying visa to visit USA is no action and is ridiculous. What action it took in the massacre of innocent and unarmed civilian population of Lebanon and Palestine by the Israeli troops. Even if it is accepted  that OSAMA BIN LADEN was a terrorist but he was just an individual. What about the  states like Israel and India who are resorting to state terrorism. 

The US wastes no time in mobilizing NATO and its other allies when any local uprising takes place in any Muslim country but when it happens in a country where there allies of friends are involved, they just do not bother and actually help the oppressor like in Kashmir, Palestine.The US is also trying to squeeze Pakistan by depriving it of its strategic depth in Afghanistan and giving India an increased role and space in Afghanistan. This goes to prove that US is not a reliable and trusted friend and is Anti Muslim, Anti Islam and Pakistan has had enough occasions to substantiate this argument. Pakistan has invited trouble in its own country and with its own people by pursuing the policies in the interest of US. Pakistan needs to rethink about its foreign policy and need not rely on the US. US is treating Pakistan like a prostitute and enters its territory and conducts military operations at its free will against some economic aid which is also tagged with so many conditions. Pakistani authorities shouls understand that Americans military operations within Pakistan soil are not going to stop here after the elimination of Osama. Americans will continue to conduct direct military operations inside Pakistan unilaterally on one pretext or the other. Sometimes, they will make an excuse of pursuing Mulla Omar, sometimes Al-Zuwahiri and so on and so forth. The only thing that will stop US from conducts military operations is when they suffer human losses and for that Pakistan needs to retaliate militarily. This is the only reason they pulled out from IRAQ and are now trying to find a face saving in coming out from Afghanistan.  It needs to make friends within its own country  rather than create enemies in the interest of US. 

The trouble in Pakistan started after 9/11 when Pakistan shifted  its Afghan policy  and went all out against Taliban to please the US administration during the Musharraf regime. Pakistan needs to assert and survive as a free and independent Nation. Pakistan needs to generate its own resources for its survival and not depend on the US economic aid and if they are unable to do it, they have no right to exist as an independent country . Pakistan should strictly adhere to and follow the sayings of its National poet Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal:  “Aay Tair-I-Lahoti, Us Rizk sey Mout Achi Jis Rizk sey Aaati ho parvaaz mein kotahee”. Pakistan should not bother about any military misadventure of the US as the US cannot afford to intervene directly and invade any country they want. US has in the recent past intervened directly in IRAQ and Afghanistan and has met with failures and has not been able to fulfill its desires/objectives as envisaged/planned by it and is now trying to have a face saving to come out of Afghanistan. 

The US has refrained from intervening in other countries defying their dictates subsequently after Afghanistan such as Iran, North Korea etc in view of its bitter experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. US has also not taken a lead role against Libya and has left the Libyan crisis to be handled by NATO. It is a changed scenario. It has been established that it is not going to be a smooth sailing for the US to invade any country. US, instead of being a friendly country is an enemy of Pakistan. It has forced Pakistan Govt. to kill its own people and bombard them. It has also worked against Pakistan in respect of its relations with India.

Pakistan needs to enter into defence treaties and pacts with its friendly neighbouring countries like Iran, China etc and give up its dependence on United States and stand upright and live with honour, self respect and dignity.

Author : Er Maqsood Ahmad Shahdad can be reached at: maqsoodshahdad@hotmail.com