After Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s death, Kashmir is on boil and around 44 people have been killed and over 3,000 including 1,600 civilians injured in clashes between youth and security men during protests.
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Responding to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s appeal, Pakistanis held rallies around the country, including in its portion of Kashmir, to condemn alleged human rights violations in the portion of the region India controls.
Pakistan marked July 20 as a “black day” in a show of solidarity with the victims of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. Pakistan says it provides political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris and anti-India rebels who demand Kashmir’s independence or a merger with Pakistan.
The speaker asked global community to play its due role in resolving the issue of Kashmir as per commitments of India.
“If there are any terrorists in India, they are Pakistan sponsored”, Singh said, while quoting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous poem “ise mitane ki sajish karnewalo se keh do, chingari ka khel bura hota hai, auro ke ghar aag lagane ka jo sapna apne hi ghar main khada hota hai”.
Parts of Indian Kashmir have been under curfew for 11 days and residents have complained of medicine shortages.
They said that by accusing Pakistan, New Delhi was trying to give legitimacy to the atrocities and barbarism its forces were committing against the people of the occupied territory.
Referring to the present situation in Kashmir, where at least 43 people have died in clashes in a fortnight period, the Home Minister said the Government has directed security forces to exercise maximum restrain while dealing with protesters.
He said the United Nations had promised that Kashmiris were free to make decision about their destiny and Pakistan will support them till realisation of that goal.
He also announced in Lok Sabha that an expert committee will be set up to recommend alternatives to pellet guns, a non-lethal weapon blamed for causing fatal injuries and blindness among protestors in Kashmir. “No government can solve the Kashmir issue on its own”, he added.
Mr Akbar said India was all for maintaining good relations with Pakistan, but it was unfortunate that the neighbour was not ready to mend its ways.
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Bilawal wore the black armband to observe the black day in protest against the Indian oppression in the valley. “Despite all this, our nation stands united”, Singh said.
