GENEVA - Pakistan's foreign minister warned Tuesday that India's 鈥渋llegal occupation鈥� of Muslim-majority Kashmir could drive the nuclear-armed countries 鈥渋nto an accidental war.鈥�
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi accused India at a session of the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council of turning Kashmir 鈥渋nto the largest prison on this planet.鈥� He alleged some Kashmiris were tortured and raped in the region claimed by both Pakistan and India.
鈥淚 shudder to mention the word 'genocide' here, but I must,鈥� Qureshi said.
Tensions between Pakistan and its southeastern neighbour have been heightened since Aug. 5, when India's government changed the status of Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Indian government imposed a security lockdown and communications blackout that has since been partially lifted in most of Jammu and Kashmir, which India's Parliament voted last month to downgrade from a state into two federally administered territories.
鈥淥nce the curfew is lifted, the reality comes out, the world will wake up to the catastrophe that is underway right now,鈥� Qureshi told reporters.
Pakistan also issued a statement on behalf of about 60 nations calling for respect of human rights, an end to the curfew and communications shutdown in Kashmir and 鈥渦nhindered access鈥� for international media and human rights groups in Kashmir.
India's envoy, Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Vijay Thakur Singh, later lashed out against 鈥渙ne delegation鈥� at the Human Rights Council for giving 鈥渁 running commentary with offensive rhetoric, of false allegations and concocted charges against my country.鈥�
She did not mention Pakistan by name.
鈥淭he world is aware that this fabricated narrative comes from the epicenter of global terrorism, where ringleaders are sheltered for years,鈥� she said, alluding to Pakistan.
鈥淭his country conducts cross-border terrorism as a form of alternate diplomacy,鈥� she added, without addressing Qureshi's allegations specifically.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and both claim rights to all of it. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two wars over the region's control.
Pakistan alleges that India could attack the Pakistan-administered portion of Kashmir by stage-managing an attack in the India-controlled part to divert international attention from human rights violations.
鈥淚ndia is acting irresponsibly. They're being belligerent,鈥� Qureshi said. 鈥淎nd if there is a false-flag operation, which we fear, and they use it as a pretext and carry out some misadventure against Pakistan, we will respond.鈥�
鈥淲e will respond with force,鈥� he added. 鈥淎nd, you never know, we could be into an accidental war.鈥�
He noted that U.S. President Trump had offered to mediate.
鈥淲e welcomed it,鈥� Qureshi said. 鈥淎nd India said, 'No, no, no, no. Don't worry, we're going to resolve things on our own.' They cannot be resolved. That cannot be resolved bilaterally.鈥�
