A 12-member delegation of the Organisation of Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) visited the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday for firsthand account of the situation along the heavily militarised dividing line in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, reported Dawn.
The delegation was flown to Chirikot sector in Poonch division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir where a senior military commander gave a comprehensive briefing to its members on the prevailing security environment along the LoC, official sources said.
The delegation was also apprised of the arrangements made for protection of civilians from hostile fire through construction of community bunkers, sources added.
The 740-km LoC had been witnessing unprovoked artillery shelling and firing from across the dividing line until February when India and Pakistan renewed the 2003 ceasefire, bringing relief in the lives of the affected population.
During the visit, the OIC-IPHRC members interacted with the victims of ceasefire violations, members of village defence committees and civil administration officials.
Speaking on the occasion, the delegation members said the situation in Kashmir was serious and needed immediate attention and action on the part of the international community. “After listening to the victims, this problem, this violation by the Indian government is real and it’s not being punished by the international agencies,” said Ahmed Azam from Malaysia.
He stressed that the sufferings of the Kashmiris needed to be documented and highlighted.
