ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Secretary on Monday called in Indian High Commissioner and conveyed Pakistan’s serious concerns over the recent killings of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and many other civilians in Indian occupied Kashmir by the Indian military and paramilitary forces.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary observed that the use of excessive force against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings was deplorable and a blatant violation of the right to life, right to freedom of expression and opinion, right to peaceful protest, right to peaceful assembly and other fundamental rights. The Foreign Secretary condemned the firing by Indian security forces on peaceful protesters, resulting in the deaths of more than 30 innocent people and injuries of more than 300 around 50 of them critically. He highlighted that such brutal use of force was unacceptable under any circumstances.
The Foreign Secretary called for fair and transparent inquiries against individuals responsible for these killings. It was emphasised that oppressive measures would not deter the valiant people of the Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
The Foreign Secretary reiterated Pakistan’s call for the Indian government to fulfil its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Similar statements were issued by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other ministers and politicians.
Terming it interference in India’s internal affairs, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said Pakistan should refrain from issuing statements on the recent unrest in India-held Kashmir. “We have seen statements from Pakistan on the situation in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. They reflect Pakistan’s continued attachment to terrorism and its usage as an instrument of state policy,” reads the statement posted on Indian MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup’s Twitter profile. The statement also asks Pakistan to stop interfering in the “internal affairs of its neighbours”.
