India using chemical agents against Kashmiris: FO

Spokesperson says bodies found recently were burnt beyond recognition indicating foul play

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday accused India of using ammunition containing chemical agents in the disputed region of Kashmir to crush the freedom struggle in the Himalayan region.

“Reportedly, Indian forces in IoK are using ammunition containing chemical agents and precursors to kill Kashmiri youth and destroy Kashmiris’ properties,” alleged Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakria at the weekly news briefing.

He said charred bodies of Kashmiri youth were found in the debris of five houses destroyed by the Indian forces at Bahmnoo and Kakpora in Pulwama.

“The bodies were so extensively burnt that they were beyond visual recognition. Body of Kifayat Ahmad, one of the three martyred youth, could be identified. There were more such occurrences of crimes by the Indian army.”

He said if use of chemicals in the ammunition was confirmed, then it would constitute a serious violation of international norms and India’s international obligations under Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

“We call upon the international community, particularly, relevant international organisations to initiate investigations into these reports,” Zakria stressed.

The allegations came as situation in Kashmir remains tense amid the first death anniversary of prominent Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani.



The killing of Wani triggered the widespread violence in Indian controlled Kashmir.

The spokesperson also welcomed the recent statement by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei who called for supporting the ‘oppressed people of Kashmir.’

The statement from Ayatollah Khamenei was seen as departure from Tehran’s traditional stance as it has longstanding ties with India.

However, with India inching closer to Israel, Tehran appears to have also changed its approach.

“The entire Muslim Ummah is concerned over grave human rights situation in IoK. OIC has repeatedly condemned Indian atrocities and called for an independent fact finding mission to be sent to Indian occupied Kashmir,” the spokesperson said.

He said Pakistan believes that India must be confronted to immediately stop the bloodshed in IoK and called for an early implementation of relevant UNSC Resolutions that promise Kashmiris UN-supervised plebiscite to exercise their right to self-determination.

‘No terror structure in Pakistan’

Reacting to reports that US Senator John McCain asked Pakistan to destroy terror infrastructure particularly of the Haqqani network, the spokesperson made it clear that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts were without any discrimination. “Terrorists are on the run and their infrastructure has been dismantled.”

“These terrorists, namely TTP, TTA, Da’ish, JuA, remnants of al Qaeda and a number of other splinter groups are settled in the ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan,” the spokesperson alleged saying that TTP and TTA had fled to Afghanistan.

“In Pakistan, there is no organised presence of any of those terror outfits,” he added.

Zakria claimed that there was convergence of thoughts of both the US and Pakistan on the current Afghanistan situation.

“Pakistan’s position on the efforts for reconciliation is clear. We believe in Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. We also firmly believe that peace and security in Afghanistan has direct bearing on the peace and security in Pakistan. Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest. We fully support all efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

Talking about the role of India, he said New Delhi was part of the problem. “India doesn’t want peace in Afghanistan as its presence there is primarily aimed against Pakistan. Let me emphasize that Pakistan and Pakistani people are the most sincere friends of Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said.