India repeating Gujarat massacre in occupied Kashmir, says Foreign Minister Asif

Asif said that situation at the Line of Control is tense due to the Indian government.

The foreign minister said that the recently held federal cabinet meeting was held on a one-point agenda, to discuss the plight of Kashmiri people.

He said that the cabinet has agreed to send government delegations to different countries in view of apprising them of human rights abuse in the occupied valley.

Asif said that he discussed Kashmir crisis with the Turkish and Iranian foreign minister, adding that the Muslim nations have openly supported Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.

Earlier, Pakistan premier expressed deep shock and grief at Sunday’s indiscriminate and vicious killing of at least 17 Kashmiri youth in occupied Kashmir by Indian forces.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killings, is deplorable.

He emphasised that Indian attempts to label the legitimate Kashmiri struggle as terrorism cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN resolutions.

Abbasi called on the international community to urge India to allow access to fact-finding missions to occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Abbasi’s statement was followed by the Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) comments that “Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir can never suppress a just indigenous political struggle for self-determination.”

General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the brutalities of Indian security forces against innocent civilians in occupied Kashmir and ceasefire violations targeting civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary are highly condemnable.

The statements by the Pakistani leadership came amid a complete shutdown marked by curfew and restrictions in occupied Kashmir, against Sunday’s killings of Kashmiri youth at the hands of Indian troops.

Thirteen youth were martyred in a siege and search operation and four in firing on protesters and funerals in Islamabad and Shopian districts of the occupied valley on Sunday.

The fresh wave of violence against Kashmir people also left over 200 civilians injured.