Pakistan denounces 'spree of extra-judicial killings' in IIOJK

Islamabad condemns Pulwama killings, terms Indian ministers' visit an attempt to 'project a false sense of normalcy'

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has strongly condemned the "continued spree of extra-judicial killings" of innocent Kashmiris by occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In an official statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Office denounced "staged encounters and fake cordon-and-search operations by Indian occupation forces" in the Himalayan disputed territory.

The communique further said that two Kashmiris were martyred today in Pulwama in a so-called cordon-and-search operation.

The Foreign Office highlighted that at least 18 innocent Kashmiris have been martyred with impunity by Indian occupation forces in the last one month.

Also read: FO strongly condemns killing of five Kashmiris in IIOJK

It noted that while the fundamental freedoms of Kashmiris remain suspended, the occupation forces have further intensified their repression in IIOJK in the past weeks.

"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," it maintained.

The statement added that hateful terms such as "hybrid terrorists" and "white-collar terrorists" are used to further demonise them.

"The deteriorating security and human rights situation in the occupied territory is a matter of grave concern for the international community," the Foreign Office said.

Also read: Kashmir — cordon and kill

It further stated, "Amidst all this, the visit by Indian ministers to the occupied valley is another Indian ploy to divert attention from the state-sponsored terrorism and to project a false sense of “normalcy” in IIOJK.

The statement went on to add 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.

"India must realise that the path to sustainable peace and development in the region is through the permanent resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people," the Foreign Office concluded.