LONDON: The Green Party has adopted a landmark new policy at its Spring Conference 2026 recognising the distinct ethnic identity and equality needs of British Kashmiris, while setting out a rights-based approach to peace in Jammu & Kashmir grounded in international law, democratic self-determination, and human rights.
The motion, numbered E39 and proposed by Azhar Ahmed, represents the first time the Party has formally codified a comprehensive policy on both the domestic rights of British Kashmiris and the UK's responsibilities toward the disputed region.
Recognition of British Kashmiri Identity
A central pillar of the new policy is the formal recognition of "Kashmiri" as an ethnic category across key public data systems, including England and Wales Census outputs, NHS data, local authority equality monitoring, and education sector reporting. This builds on existing Office for National Statistics detailed classifications that already acknowledge Kashmiri identity, but which have lacked standardised, consistent application across public institutions.
The policy commits the Green Party to campaigning for targeted action to address socioeconomic inequalities, health disparities, and educational attainment gaps experienced by British Kashmiris — communities that, despite their significant presence in cities like Bradford, Birmingham, and Sheffield, have historically been underrepresented or misclassified in equality data.
The motion also affirms support for protecting Kashmiri heritage and cultural identity within public bodies and cultural institutions.
Proposer Azhar Ahmed described the adoption as "a historic moment," arguing that British Kashmiri communities have for too long been overlooked in data collection, public services, and policy development.
A Rights-Based Framework
On the international dimension, the Green Party's new policy formally recognises Jammu & Kashmir as a disputed territory whose final status must be determined through democratic means and in accordance with international law, reflecting the wishes of its peoples. It affirms the right to self-determination for all peoples of the region.
The Party calls on the UK Government to advocate for an end to human rights violations by all actors; access for international human rights organisations; restoration of civil liberties, media freedom, and freedom of assembly; demilitarisation consistent with protecting civilian life; and an inclusive peace process involving Kashmiri representatives across localities, genders, faiths, and political affiliations.
Acknowledging the UK's Historic Role
The motion explicitly acknowledges Britain's historic role in the region, a reference to the 1947 partition of British India, which left the status of Jammu & Kashmir unresolved. The Green Party expressed its commitment to promoting multilateral diplomacy, encouraging renewed UN engagement, and supporting track-two dialogue involving diaspora and civil society organisations. It also affirms the importance of the British Kashmiri diaspora in UK public life.
Dr Rabia Khan, one of the motion's supporters, said the policy reflects core Green values of "human rights, justice and international cooperation."
A Growing Cross-Party Conversation in Westminster
The Green Party's adoption of this policy reflects a broader, intensifying cross-party discussion in the UK Parliament on Kashmir. Several significant parliamentary actions have preceded this moment:
In December 2025, Labour MP Imran Hussain led a Westminster Hall debate titled "Kashmir: Self-Determination", in which British lawmakers called on the UK to play a more active role in supporting Kashmiri self-determination and pressing India on human rights violations. MPs from Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, and Independent benches argued that the UK's longstanding position of treating Kashmir as a "bilateral issue" between India and Pakistan is no longer morally or diplomatically defensible.
In March 2025, a Westminster Hall debate on "Jammu and Kashmir: Human Rights" heard calls for the UK Government to take an active role in mediation, with MPs stressing that negotiations must include Kashmiri voices — particularly those of women, who are disproportionately affected by the conflict.
An Early Day Motion on "Human Rights in Kashmir" tabled in Parliament condemned all systematic human rights violations in Kashmir and called on the Government to encourage India to deliver the referendum on Kashmir promised in 1948, and to work constructively with Pakistan, India, and China toward a peaceful resolution.
A further Early Day Motion on the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly elections recognised the right to self-determination for Kashmiris and opposed the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which revoked Kashmir's special status, while decrying the use of arrest powers, disappearances, torture, and extra-judicial killings against dissidents.
Successive Conservative and Labour governments have maintained the UK's longstanding position that Kashmir is a bilateral matter for India and Pakistan to resolve, taking into account Kashmiri wishes, a stance reaffirmed as recently as June 2025.
The Green Party's new policy marks a notable departure from this position, explicitly calling for active UK facilitation of multilateral
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