German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on India and Pakistan to respect the human rights of Kashmiris and adopt a “constructive approach” toward resolving the decades-long conflict.
Speaking alongside her Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at a joint press conference in Islamabad, Baerbock said that the idea that ‘human rights are indivisible’ applies to every region in the world, including Kashmir. In this respect, she urged both sides to ensure that the human rights of Kashmiris are protected.
Germany “supports the work of the United Nations to ensure that the human rights of all are being guaranteed,” she said.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan @BBhuttoZardari and German Foreign Minister @ABaerbock Joint Press Stakeout. https://t.co/sdXojrxqYO
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 7, 2022
Additionally, she urged New Delhi and Islamabad to adopt a “constructive approach” to the conflict and engage diplomatically. Baerbock emphasised the importance of both sides undertaking confidence building measures to improve the situation in the Valley, asserting that this is the “only way forward.”
In this regard, she said that the Line of Control (LoC) ceasefire agreed upon in 2021 was a “positive step” and urged both sides to follow this trajectory and take other similar steps.
Learned that @ABaerbock has tested positive for Covid. I wish her a quick recovery and good health. Building on our excellent talks today, I look forward to our continued engagement and future interactions to further solidify 🇵🇰-🇩🇪partnership. https://t.co/sEwmWmnQOU
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 7, 2022
In February last year, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire across the LoC and other sectors; both sides agreed to utilise existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings to resolve any misunderstandings.
Bhutto Zardari, meanwhile, said that the “continuing human rights violations” in Kashmir and the “rising tide of Islamophobia across India” are a threat to regional peace and security. He also noted that “sustainable peace in South Asia remains contingent upon the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
While Pakistan’s new government has expressed willingness to engage with India on the issue of Kashmir, it has called for several preconditions before diplomatic talks can resume. Last week, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on New Delhi to reverse its decision to revoke Article 370 of its constitution before his country engages in negotiations with India.
Sharif called India’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370, which gave Kashmir special status, an attempt to further “brutalise” the Kashmiri people, change the region’s demographics, and deny the Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
Both envoys also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Baerbock said, “Pakistan has been affected like no other country by the impact of this crisis” and at the same time, it is a “key partner” for Germany “in bringing the people in Afghanistan to safety for whom we bear responsibility.”
She stressed that the Taliban is leading Afghanistan to its “downfall,” as the group continues to violate the human rights of minorities, including the exclusion of women from public life, depriving girls of education, and brutally suppressing dissenting voices.
To this end, the German FM urged the international community to condemn the Taliban’s policy. She added that there is “no room for normalisation and recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate rulers” of Afghanistan if they do not abandon their current policies.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the duo expressed their support for the people of Ukraine. Bhutto Zardari called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities and immediate initiation of peaceful dialogue” He said that Pakistan is “concerned about the well-being of the Ukrainian people” and has sent four planeloads of humanitarian aid.
The two ministers also discussed improving bilateral ties, with Bhutto Zardari saying that Pakistan is willing to expand relations.”
Shortly after the press conference, the German FM tested positive for COVID-19 and had to cut short her trip, as a result of which she has now cancelled her subsequent visits to Greece and Turkey.