Pakistan, India in bitter war of words

Sartaj Aziz criticises India’s ‘state terrorism’ in Kashmir


Kamran Yousaf July 22, 2016
Pakistani rangers (wearing black uniforms) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) officers lower their national flags during a daily parade at the Pakistan-India joint check-post at Wagah border, near Lahore November 3, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India engaged in a bitter diplomatic spat on Thursday after the nuclear-armed neighbours accused each other of escalating violence in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at a news conference at the Foreign Office, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz directed scathing criticism at India for carrying out ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ to suppress the legitimate Kashmir freedom struggle.

As the adviser spoke in Islamabad, India’s Union Minister Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of destabilising India and the country’s external affairs ministry alleged Islamabad was inciting violence in the disputed valley.

India lambasts Pakistan as tensions flare over Kashmir



“We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to Jammu and Kashmir. We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting violence and terrorism in any part of our country,” a statement by the Indian ministry said.

However, Sartaj Aziz dismissed Indian objections and made it clear that it was not Pakistan but India, which was violating the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir. “The spontaneous and widespread uprising proves that Kashmir struggle is indigenous and rejects the Indian accusations against Pakistan for stirring trouble in Indian Administrated Kashmir,” the adviser said.

He insisted that Indian attempts to claim that the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir is India’s internal affair “is factually incorrect, legally untenable and indeed a violation of international law and UNSC resolutions.”

Thousands of Pakistanis protest Indian-held Kashmir killings

“Such a brutal use of force is a blatant violation of fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people especially the right to life,” he said. “It is a clear manifestation of state-terrorism to suppress Kashmiris’ voice for the right to self-determination,” he further added.

The adviser told reporters that Pakistan would approach the UN Human Rights Council with a request to send a fact finding mission in Indian Kashmir for investigations into the recent killings of innocent civilians.

“Firing by the Indian forces on peaceful protesters is not acceptable under any circumstances,” the adviser said. He accused Indian armed forces of using live ammunition on mobs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2016.

COMMENTS (10)

Iqbal | 7 years ago | Reply Actually the Vale of Kashmir is only 7% of the total J& K & Ladakh & GB . Jammu (hindus, muslims ,sikhs) and Ladakh(buddhists) have no problem with India , GB(Shia &others) doesn't want to be with punjab Pakistan but rather with India , and finally the real inhabitants of the Vale of Kashmir are the Kashmiri pandits, who were driven out. The rest are tribal people who crossed the border in 1948 and settled there,including my family. There are only 178 militants left , there were thousands earlier in Kashmir, only a matter of time before the militants in Kashmir are eliminated . The stone throwers are paid by the hurriyat conf via their Rawalpindi offices. All the above are facts not my opinion, please digest slowly .Thanks. Iqbal Jammu
Mohammed Sattar | 7 years ago | Reply Sartaj aziz statement claiming indian troops using live amunition on mobs. This shows how our politicians have very little grasp of English instead of saying peaceful protesters he uses the word mob. If you cannot express yourself properly Mr aziz, please be quite.
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