Kashmiri Activist Javed Beigh Speaks at UN About Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan
Geneva, Switzerland – Kashmiri activist Javed Beigh intervened on behalf of India at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. This marked the first time an Indian, specifically an Indian Kashmiri Muslim, spoke about the plight of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) at the UNHRC.
PoGB, part of what India refers to as Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), is a remote region home to the world’s second-highest mountain peak, K2, and Earth’s largest freshwater reservoir outside Antarctica. It is also Pakistan’s only land border with China.
In a social media post, Javed Beigh wrote, “For the first time in more than 75 years, INDIA has raised the issue of the plight of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit and Baltistan (PoGB) in the United Nations forum.”
Beigh highlighted the grave human rights violations, systemic oppression, and severe suppression by Pakistani authorities in PoGB. He mentioned reports of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions. Recent protests against unfair taxation and resource exploitation in PoGB have been met with brutal crackdowns by security forces.
Beigh urged the international community not to ignore the suffering of the people in PoGB and called on Pakistan to end its oppressive policies, ensure accountability for human rights abuses, and uphold the dignity and rights of all its citizens.
Doubts Revealed
Kashmiri Activist -: A Kashmiri activist is someone from Kashmir who works to bring attention to important issues and problems in their region.
Javed Beigh -: Javed Beigh is a person from Kashmir who is working to help people and make their lives better by speaking out about their problems.
UN -: The UN, or United Nations, is a group of countries that work together to solve big problems in the world, like peace and human rights.
Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan -: Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan is a region that is controlled by Pakistan but is also claimed by India. People there face many problems.
57th session -: The 57th session is a meeting that happens for the 57th time where people talk about important issues.
United Nations Human Rights Council -: The United Nations Human Rights Council is a group that works to protect people’s rights and make sure everyone is treated fairly.
Geneva, Switzerland -: Geneva is a city in Switzerland, a country in Europe, where many important meetings happen.
Human rights violations -: Human rights violations are when people are treated very badly and unfairly, like not being allowed to speak freely or being hurt.
Systemic oppression -: Systemic oppression is when unfair treatment is built into the rules and systems of a place, making it hard for some people to live well.
International community -: The international community means all the countries and people in the world working together to solve problems.
Oppressive policies -: Oppressive policies are rules made by a government that make life very hard and unfair for people.