Thousands of people marched in cities across Pakistan on Wednesday to protest against the recent violence, chanting slogans condemning Indian rule and the actions of security forces.
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They also condemned the brutal use of force in Kashmir and urged the global community to condemn the blatant human rights violations in Kashmir and play their role by fulfilling its commitments under the UNSC resolutions and ensuring the people of the restive valley were given their due rights. Pakistan has further used Wani’s killing to needle India at the United Nations and issued statements accusing India of atrocities in Kashmir.
Following the decision by special meeting of the Federal Cabinet, chaired by the prime minister, Black Day was observed across Pakistan and country’s missions overseas, he added.
Burhan Wani was the commander of the region’s biggest separatist group Hizbul Mujahideen, one of several fighting for decades against Indian troops deployed in the territory. “Pakistan came into existence in the name of religion but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division”. He said Pakistan played a “key role” in fuelling tension and that the situation was “normalising” gradually.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed security forces to maintain “maximum restraint” and was in touch with him during his Africa tour also.
Attacking Pakistan, Mr. Singh said that “there is an attempt to misguide” the youth in the Valley and that a “mindset that stokes baseless anger against India” was being fostered among them.
“We will form a committee of experts”.
Mr. Singh then announced that the government was considering alternatives to pellet guns.
Mentioning the curfew barring the people’s access to food and basic emergency services, the Adviser said incidents of violence and harassment and teargas shelling have been reported in hospitals also.
“Every possible effort would be made to draw global attention towards Indian brutalities in the IoK and to resolve the dispute”, the Pakistan Foreign Adviser said.
In a statement issued by the MEA, spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: “We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to Jammu & Kashmir in Pakistan and POK over the last two days”.
He also mentioned Prime Minister Sharif’s statement on the developments on the Indian side of Kashmir and the fact that Pakistan had lodged its protests with the Indian High Commissioner on the situation prevailing across the border.
India’s External Affairs Ministry responded to Pakistan’s call for a “black day” in solidarity with Kashmiris by saying Islamabad should stop “interfering in India’s internal affairs and destabilizing the situation”.
Pakistan says it provides political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris and anti-India rebels who demand Kashmir’s independence from India or merger with Pakistan. “It must also stop misleading the global community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises such as the so-called elections today in POK which Pakistan ironically calls “Azad” (free)”, Swarup said.
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called the nation to observe black day on July 20 against Indian brutality and government officials besides the subjects supported black ribbons on their arms.
