Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK closely monitors the situation in India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. British High Commission officials in India and Pakistan continue to meet local authorities and others to discuss progress.
The Government of India appointed an interlocutor for Kashmir in October to work with interested parties and individuals in India-administered Kashmir; we understand he has completed two visits to the region. We welcome such efforts to engage in inclusive dialogue.
The long-standing position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the UN's response to the letter from the UK Permanent Representative to the UN sent on 7 September on recent action taken in Syria.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Matthew Rycroft, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN wrote to the President of the Security Council on 7 September. This was circulated to UNSC members and published as a document of the Security Council with reference S/2015/688. As is normal in these circumstances, there will be no response.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Afghan counterpart on the treatment of the Hazara people in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Our Embassy in Kabul regularly meets Hazara representatives to discuss minority issues and Hazaran representation in the National Unity Government, including 2nd Vice President Danish in September; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah’s adviser, Dr Habibi Sorabi, in June; and 2nd Deputy to the CEO Abdullah, Mohammed Mohaqeq, in March, where concerns regarding the kidnaps of Hazaras were raised. We raised our concerns regarding minority rights with the Government of Afghanistan during Afghanistan’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in 2014.Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Libya.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Ongoing instability and increased violence are a serious threat to Libya’s future. The wider region is threatened by the increasing presence of terrorist organisations and the facilitation of illegal migration. The UK is particularly concerned about the growing threat from extremist groups affiliated with ISIL in Libya. Only a stable and representative Government of National Accord (GNA) can deal with the political and security challenges Libya faces. I discussed this with visiting members of the House of Representatives and Libyan activists during my recent visit to Tunisia.
The UK remains fully committed to supporting the work of Special Representative of the Secretary General Leon to find a lasting political and security settlement in Libya. An agreement on a GNA is an essential first step to normalising Libya, and needs to be accompanied by a monitored ceasefire, withdrawal of armed groups from the cities and a comprehensive security plan.