Calls upon int’l community to hold Islamabad accountable for killing dozens of people in PoJK
New Delhi, Jul 31: Calling upon the international community to closely examine Pakistan’s actions in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), India on Friday said neighbouring country’s political leadership has admitted that terrorists once trained and armed by the Pakistani state to target India have now turned against them.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Islamabad has unleashed a violent crackdown on civilians in PoJK and it should be held accountable for the deaths of more than 40 people during recent unrest in the region.”
He said, “Pakistan’s own political leadership has effectively admitted that terrorists once trained and armed by the Pakistani establishment to target India have now turned against the Pakistani state.”
Jaiswal said, “The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Affairs has openly acknowledged that the very Mujahideen whom the Pakistani establishment trained, funded, armed and sent to bleed India have now turned their guns inwards and are weaponising themselves against the state.”
He alleged that Pakistan has used “ruthless force” against civilians in PoJK, where protests have intensified in recent weeks over rising prices, alleged administrative neglect, political discrimination and reported atrocities against minority communities.
According to Jaiswal, the security crackdown has left more than 40 civilians dead and many others seriously injured. The demonstrations are being led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
He also criticised remarks attributed to Pakistan’s defence minister, alleging that protesters were described as “enemies”, saying such statements reflected the establishment’s “absolute disdain” for the people of PoJK.
Referring to the recently concluded local body elections in the region, Jaiswal said the outcome represented a “humiliating rejection” of Pakistan’s establishment and noted that residents had appealed to international organisations to order an independent probe into the killings.
“We urge the international community to scrutinise Pakistan’s actions and hold it accountable for its atrocities,” he said.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal reiterated India’s longstanding position that the entire region, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
“We are very clear that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, was, is and will continue to be an integral and inalienable part of India,” he said.
He urged foreign governments and stakeholders to use what India considers the correct nomenclature while referring to the region.
Earlier this month, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, also reaffirmed before the UN that Jammu and Kashmir “has always been, is, and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India”, describing it as the country’s constitutional and legal reality. (KNO)
