Former Norwegian PM visits PoK

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik has visited Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to assess the human rights situation, the Foreign Office said today.
Bondevik met Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi after concluding his trip to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)., the Foreign Office said in a statement.
He along with a two-member delegation is visiting Pakistan and PoK from March 29-31 to understand the rights situation in Kashmir and "gross human rights violations" of Kashmiris, it said.
He called on PoK 'President' Sardar Masood Khan and its 'prime minister' Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan.
"Bondevik underscored that the Kashmir issue is a long standing conflict and needs a political solution, taking into account the UN Security Council Resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people, along both sides of the Line of Control," the Foreign Office said.

Fatemi appreciated the strong support of Bondevik for protection of human rights and urged him to sensitise the international community about the need for expedited resolution of the Kashmir issue, in line with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Bondevik is the founder and president of the Oslo Peace Centre for Peace and Human Rights. He was Norway's Prime Minister from 1997-2000 and again from 2001-2005.