ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has strongly condemned the continuing spree of extrajudicial killings of innocent Kashmiris in staged encounters and fake cordon-and-search-operations by Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Two Kashmiris were martyred on Wednesday in the Pulwama district of IIOJK by Indian occupation forces in the so-called cordon-and-search-operation.
In the last one month, at least 18 innocent Kashmiris have been martyred with impunity by Indian occupation forces.
While the fundamental freedoms of Kashmiris remain suspended, the Indian Occupation forces have further intensified their repression in IIOJK in the past weeks.
The extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, incarceration of hundreds of common Kashmiris and Hurriyat leaders under the draconian laws and harassment of Kashmiris at the military check-points or during the night raids continue with impunity. Hateful terms such as “hybrid terrorists” and “white collar terrorists” are used to further demonize them.
In a statement, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that the deteriorating security and human rights situation in the occupied territory is a matter of grave concern for the international community.
The Spokesperson said that amidst all this, the visit by Indian ministers to the occupied territory is another Indian ploy to divert attention from India’s state-sponsored terrorism and to project a false sense of “normalcy” in IIOJK.
Asim Iftikhar said that no amount of lies, deceit and publicity stunts by the RSS-BJP votaries in the name of fake ‘normalcy’ and development, can mask, address or remove the total alienation of the Kashmiris in IIOJK.
“India must realize that the path to sustainable peace and development in the region is through a permanent resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people,” he said.
UN concerned at arrest of Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez
Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights office has expressed deep concern at the arrest of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez under Indian counter-terrorism legislation.
“We are unaware of the factual basis of the charges. He is known as a tireless advocate for families of the disappeared,” the UN human rights office said.