India’s permanent representative designate to Geneva Indra Mani Pandey is currently visiting Kashmir to take feedback on the overall situation in the Valley, particularly with regard to human rights, days ahead of taking over his new assignment.

Officers apprised him of statistics and details of the work done across the UT after August 5, 2019, terming it an era of “unprecedented development”. Pandey also interacted with security officials to understand the way things had changed since August 5 last year to present a clear picture before the international community as the need might arise as part of his new assignment, sources told The Tribune.

“We understand he wanted to have an idea of the situation as to what to tell the international community about Kashmir,” a source said, linking it to the aggressive propaganda unleashed by Pakistan on the international forums about India on Kashmir.

Pandey wanted to have all facts and irrefutable evidence about the development and what had been going on in Kashmir so that he could pin down all the narrators of distortions, particularly Pakistan, and also the voices that had been raising the issue of Kashmir solution time and again.

It is learnt that “Gupkar declaration” also figured in the discussions.

The criticism has been quite sharp in the international media and other forums since August 5 last year when J&K’s special status was scrapped and the state split into two Union Territories.

He was briefed on how lives were saved post-August 5 by the measures taken by the government by taking on trouble-makers. This side has been distorted and it is being given out as if the restrictions impaired human rights of the Valley residents.

Pandey was appointed as the PR to Geneva on July 1.

The August 5 decisions were followed up with strict restrictions but on the ground, dividends were that “not a single bullet was fired to maintain law and order”. It has also been pointed out that due to the constant improvement in the situation, 100 companies of the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces were being sent back.

Sources said Pandey wanted to understand Kashmir in full to present its complete and clear picture as and when the need may arise as part of his new assignment.

Daily Tribune:  28th August, 2020