A letter to Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
9 June 2026
Dear Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary,
Subject: Human Rights Situation in Pakistan-Administered Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
I am writing to draw your urgent attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (commonly known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Gilgit-Baltistan, and to request that His Majesty's Government take a more active interest in protecting the rights and welfare of the people of these regions.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered the consequences of conflict, division, political uncertainty and external control for nearly eight decades. While international attention often focuses on developments elsewhere in the region, serious human rights concerns in the territories administered by Pakistan receive comparatively little scrutiny despite their profound impact on local populations.
Recent developments have generated widespread concern among residents and members of the Kashmiri diaspora. Reports indicate the deployment of more than 20,000 security personnel, including Rangers, Frontier Constabulary, and police units, from various parts of Pakistan. There have been allegations of excessive use of force against demonstrators, arrests of political activists, restrictions on freedom of expression, communication disruptions, limitations on independent reporting and the suppression of peaceful political activity.
As a result, lives have reportedly been lost, many people have been injured, and numerous individuals have been detained. Families continue to live under conditions of uncertainty and fear. The situation has been further aggravated by restrictions on communication, Internet blocking, and the absence of independent media access, making it difficult for the outside world to obtain a clear and impartial picture of developments on the ground.
Gilgit-Baltistan faces similar challenges. Despite its immense strategic importance and vast natural resources, many local people continue to complain of political marginalisation, inadequate constitutional protections, restrictions on genuine democratic participation and limited control over their own resources and future. There is also growing concern regarding demographic changes, land ownership issues and the long-term political status of the region.
The United Kingdom cannot entirely separate itself from these developments. The origins of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute are closely connected to the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power in 1947. Britain, therefore, carries a historical and moral responsibility to support efforts aimed at protecting human rights, democratic freedoms and peaceful conflict resolution throughout the former State of Jammu and Kashmir.
I respectfully urge His Majesty's Government to:
• Closely monitor the human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Raise concerns with the Government of Pakistan regarding allegations of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on freedom of expression and limitations on peaceful political activity.
• Encourage independent international human rights monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
• Support democratic reforms, transparency, accountability and the rule of law in both territories.
• Engage directly with representatives of civil society, human rights defenders and community organisations from these regions.
• Ensure that humanitarian and development assistance intended for the people of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan reaches local communities in a transparent and accountable manner.
Many residents believe that aid allocated in their name does not always reach those for whom it is intended. There is a widespread perception that funds channelled through Islamabad or other central authorities frequently fail to address local needs adequately. For this reason, any assistance provided by the United Kingdom should, wherever possible, be independently monitored and delivered through transparent mechanisms that directly benefit local communities.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan require international attention not because they seek confrontation, but because they seek dignity, justice, democratic representation, economic opportunity and respect for their fundamental human rights.
I would also respectfully submit that the future of Jammu and Kashmir should ultimately be determined by the people of the former State themselves and not imposed by India, Pakistan or China. Lasting peace and stability can only emerge when the voices and aspirations of the people concerned are genuinely respected.
I therefore urge the British Government to raise these matters with the relevant authorities and to use its influence to encourage respect for human rights, democratic principles and peaceful dialogue.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Shabir Choudhry
Author, Political Analyst and Human Rights Advocate
London, United Kingdom.
Copies to:
- The Prime Minister,
- The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
- The Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights,
· Shabana Mahmood, MP and Home Secretary,
· Imran Hussain, Chairman of the All-Parties Parliamentary Group,
· UN.org,
· Human Rights Watch,
· Amnesty International,
· Freeassembly,
· Ohchr,
· Freedomhouse,
· Aiusa.org
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