Pakistan accused of Kashmir abuse

By Barbara Plett
BBC News, Islamabad

Independence supporters are not tolerated, the report says

An international human rights group has said that people who support Kashmiri independence in Pakistani-administered Kashmir are being persecuted.

The Human Rights Watch report says that they are repressed and tortured by the Pakistani state.

It says there are "strict controls" on freedom in the area, which was devastated last year by an earthquake.

The Pakistani government has dismissed the report as "outrageous and factually incorrect".

'Often beaten'

The report says that, while Pakistan says Kashmiris should be free to decide their future, in practice what Islamabad really means is that the whole territory should become part of Pakistan.

The Pakistani government must ensure that the people of Pakistani-administered Kashmir can exercise their... rights in an environment free of coercion and fear Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams

The report says that the military show no tolerance for dissent and practically run the area as a fiefdom.

And it says the authorities do not tolerate those who speak out for Kashmir's independence from both Pakistan and India.

"People who advocate independence are often beaten," said Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams.

"There are many cases of torture that we've documented.

"Their freedom of expression is proscribed, their books are banned, they're not able to hold public processions or demonstrations."

Human Rights Watch said the level of violations did not compare to that in Indian-administered Kashmir, where tens of thousands have been killed in large-scale violence by Indian soldiers and by militants.

But the report does document cases of torture, detention and persecution of Kashmiri nationalists by Pakistani security forces.

And it points out that Islamist militant groups, including some supposedly banned, have greater freedom of expression than pro-independence groups.

Human Rights Watch has now urged international donors not to donate towards reconstruction aid for Pakistani-administered Kashmir until there are improvements in basic liberties.

It said the devastating earthquake last year had helped open up the previously closed territory, and that UN human rights reporters should maintain a presence in both sides of Kashmir.