New Delhi: India on Tuesday strongly criticised Pakistan over reports of police action against protesters in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), alleging widespread human rights violations and urging the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for its actions.
The remarks came after reports suggested that more than 20 people were killed and several others injured during clashes between protesters and security forces in different parts of PoK.
Responding to questions during a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal accused Pakistan of attempting to divert attention from its internal issues through misinformation campaigns.
“We continue to see a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses,” Jaiswal said.
Referring to the reported violence in PoK, he alleged that security forces had resorted to excessive force against demonstrators.
“There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in which several protesters have been killed and many injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses,” he added.
India’s comments came a day after Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission (HRCP) expressed concern over the escalating unrest in PoK. The rights body said it was “deeply alarmed” by the ongoing violence and the government’s handling of the situation.
The HRCP also criticised the regional administration’s decision to declare the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a banned organisation under anti-terrorism laws.
The JAAC has been campaigning for the removal of 12 refugee seats in the PoK Legislative Assembly. These seats are reserved for people who migrated from Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan after 1947.
The organisation has alleged that the reserved seats have frequently been used by major Pakistani political parties to influence government formation in Muzaffarabad.
India has consistently maintained that Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India and has repeatedly objected to political and electoral exercises conducted by Islamabad in the region. New Delhi has previously described Pakistan’s control over the territory as “illegal and forcible” and has lodged diplomatic protests over elections held there.
