UK Parliament Calls for Balanced Diplomacy in Kashmir Dispute

As tensions continue to escalate in Kashmir, the UK Parliament has urged a fresh, balanced diplomatic push between India and Pakistan, citing urgent human rights concerns and regional stability risks.

The UK Parliament has issued a strong call for renewed diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan, specifically urging the UK government to adopt a more proactive and impartial approach to the decades-old Kashmir conflict. This comes through a detailed report titled “India and Pakistan: a UK foreign policy strategy for the 2020s”, published by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

The report highlights growing concerns over the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), particularly since August 2019. That year, India unilaterally revoked the region’s special constitutional status under Article 370, leading to increased military deployment, curbs on civil liberties, media restrictions, and mass detentions. Lawmakers concluded that democratic freedoms in the area have sharply declined.

While the committee also examined conditions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, it acknowledged key differences in governance when compared to the Indian side. Nevertheless, the overarching concern was the ongoing instability in the region and the need for diplomatic intervention.

The committee has encouraged the British government to leverage its historical relationships with both New Delhi and Islamabad to facilitate meaningful dialogue. While reaffirming that Kashmir must ultimately be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan, MPs emphasized that this should not deter the UK from speaking out against human rights abuses.

One of the key recommendations was to grant access for international observers—including British parliamentarians and diplomats—to both sides of the Line of Control. This, the committee believes, would help ensure greater transparency and accountability in the disputed territories.

The report also urged the UK to maintain neutrality and to avoid actions that could be perceived as favoring one side. Diplomacy, the committee said, should reflect British values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights.

Importantly, the document highlighted the significant presence of the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK. Lawmakers suggested that the government should listen closely to the concerns of this community and use its influence to support peace efforts.

Beyond the immediate conflict, the report criticized India’s increasingly aggressive stance and warned that the Kashmir issue, if left unresolved, could potentially escalate into a nuclear crisis. It pointed to an incident used by India to justify military action against Pakistan, raising alarm over the risks to regional peace.

The committee also criticized global powers, particularly the US and UK, for their passive approach to the conflict. It praised Pakistan’s recent conduct as measured and aligned with international law.

The UK government is expected to issue a formal response to the report’s findings and recommendations soon.