India slams Pakistan over PoJK crackdown, Calls for international probe into civilian killings

 

New Delhi: India on Friday strongly criticised Pakistan over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), accusing the Pakistani establishment of using excessive force against peaceful civilians during the ongoing unrest linked to the so-called elections.

 

  

Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the crackdown has led to the death of more than 40 innocent people, while many others have been seriously injured.

 

 

Jaiswal said the Pakistani establishment’s 'absolute disdain’ for the people of PoJK was evident when its Defence Minister branded protesting civilians as enemies. He also stated that Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs had admitted that the very “mujahideen” the Pakistani establishment trained, funded, armed and sent to India have now turned their guns against the state. He described the so-called elections as a humiliating rejection of the Pakistani establishment amid the ongoing violence.

 

 

He said the people of PoJK have sought an independent international investigation into the killings and urged the international community to scrutinise Pakistan’s actions and hold it accountable for the atrocities.

 

 

Meanwhile, thousands of people held rallies in Islamabad on Friday in support of protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir following the deadly election-related unrest.