Foreign Secretary apprises Wells of ‘grave human rights’ situation in IOK

DAWN: Chief US diplomat for South Asian affairs, Alice Wells, met Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood on Tuesday, where the two officials discussed a range of bilateral issues, including political engagement and economic partnership, a Foreign Office statement said.

During the meeting, the foreign secretary and Wells, who is the acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, emphasised that a strong trade and investment relationship was key to advancing the shared vision of the leadership of both countries for a long term, broad-based and enduring partnership.

The foreign secretary, for his part, highlighted the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in India-Occupied Kashmir (IOK), “intensified ceasefire violations from the Indian side, belligerent rhetoric of the Indian civil and military figures, and India’s aggressive measures along the Line of Control”. He further stressed the need for the international community to play its role in the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, said the Foreign Office spokesperson.