Indien / Pakistan

Indian Kashmir officially became a federally ruled territory Thursday, nearly three months after New Delhi stripped its decades-old special status, but peace remains elusive in the Himalayan region that has been wracked by a violent separatist insurgency and is the flashpoint of its dispute with Pakistan.

The UN human rights office says it is extremely concerned that the population of Indian-administered Kashmir continues to be deprived of a wide range of human rights.

At least six civilians and three soldiers are said to have died during cross-border skirmishes between Pakistani and Indian troops late on October 19, reportedly making it one of the deadliest days since New Delhi revoked the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir in August.

Pakistan has ruled out talks with India until India reverses recent controversial actions in the disputed Kashmir territory.

Pakistan's foreign minister has warned that India's “illegal occupation” of Muslim-majority Kashmir could drive the two nuclear-armed countries “into an accidental war.” Shah Mahmood Qureshi lashed out at Pakistan's southeastern neighbor amid heightened tensions since Aug. 5, when India's government changed the status of Indian-administered Kashmir - a region claimed by both countries.

India’s top court on Wednesday took up legal challenges to the government’s decision to revoke Indian-controlled Kashmir’s special status and asked it to explain its stance to the court.

Envoys from nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have traded barbs outside the United Nations Security Council chamber, after members met behind closed doors for rare talks on the disputed region of Kashmir.

Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, has threatened to “teach Delhi a lesson” and vowed to fight until the end against any Indian violations in disputed Kashmir.

[…] With India-Pakistan tensions on the rise, there is a legitimate fear that any major terrorist attack in India could lead to a fresh round of military strikes by India in Pakistan, and a matching response by Pakistan. This spiral could lead to an escalation that both countries may find difficult to contain.

The UN has said the latest restrictions imposed on Indian-administered Kashmir are deeply concerning and "will exacerbate the human rights situation". A UN spokesperson highlighted a telecommunications ban, the arbitrary detention of leaders and a ban on political assembly. The region has been on lockdown since Sunday with communication cut off. It came as India made the controversial decision to remove its special constitutional status.