Pakistan condemns extrajudicial killings of Kashmiris in IOJ&K

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the unabated extrajudicial killings of Kashmiri youth in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

In a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry, FO Spokesperson described the extra-judicial killings of Kashmiri youth as, “Acts of state-terrorism perpetrated by Indian occupation forces.”

Pakistan  again called upon the international community to take instant cognizance of the persistent reports of arbitrary and extra-judicial killings in IOJ&K, falsely labeled as having been the result of ‘encounters’ or as having occurred in ‘cross-fire.’

The Spokesperson said, “The Indian occupation forces have martyred 9 more Kashmiri youth during the last 24 hours in “fake” encounters and so-called “cordon-and-search” operations in Shopian area of IOJ&K.”

More than 110 innocent Kashmiris had been martyred by the Indian occupation forces during the past five months in fake ‘encounters’ and so-called ‘cordon-and-search’ operations. In the last two days alone, another eight Kashmiris have been martyred in Pulwama and Shopian, the statement read.

It added, “The BJP leadership must realize that it is directly responsible for these politically-motivated, arbitrary killings of Kashmiris by the Indian security forces. International law prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of life and extra-judicial killings.

This norm is codified in every major human rights treaty and convention. No illegal Act, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, can sanctify or provide legal cover to a crime recognized as such by international law” the spokesperson further added.

“It is the responsibility of the world community to urgently act and protect the Kashmiris from the wanton killings and other brutalities being inflicted on them by the Indian occupation forces. Pakistan will continue to call for holding India accountable for its crimes against the Kashmiri people,” the statement concluded.