ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed concern over the arrest of Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders at the hand of Indian security forces in Indian-held Kashmir and termed it a violation of human rights.

"India can not suppress the freedom movement of the Kashmiri people by such tactics," said Qazi Khalilullah, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office (FO).

Indian authorities have detained key separatist leaders to prevent them from holding a protest rally during an upcoming visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Indian-held Kashmir.

Separatists had called for a march by a million people near the site of Modi's public meeting in Srinagar on Saturday, challenging India's sovereignty over the disputed region.

Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Shabir Ahmed Shah have been put under house arrest, while Mohammed Yasin Malik has been detained at a police station, according to Indian police.

Preventive arrests are fairly common in Indian-held Kashmir, particularly ahead of important events that authorities fear could be targeted by anti-India protests.

Related: UN resolutions term Kashmir 'disputed': Pakistan tells India

Answering a question regarding Afghanistan, the FO spokesman stated that Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its desire to facilitate the peace process and now it is up to the Afghan government to accept the proposal.

Pakistan's efforts for Afghan peace process lauded

European Union Representative Federica Mogherini lauded Pakistan´s efforts in bringing peace to neighbouring Afghanistan and facilitating the dialogue process between Taliban and the Afghan Government.

Mogherini expressed these views after meeting with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of the 12th Foreign Affairs Minister´s meeting of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) meeting in Luxembourg.

Foreign Office spokesman in a statement issued in Islamabad said that Sartaj Aziz briefed Federica Mogherini on the positive developments of the past two years including continuing strengthening of the democratic process, revival of the economy and decisive action on terrorism.

Both the dignitaries agreed that these positive developments will further improve the opportunities for trade and investment in Pakistan.

The current level of trade between Pakistan and Europe had already crossed $11 billion especially after the GSP+ status which commenced from January 2014.

Mogherini mentioned that review of GSP+ in the first two years will be undertaken in the beginning of 2016 and emphasized the importance of adequate implementation of the requirements especially adherence to the 27 UN Conventions on Human Rights, Labor standards and climate change.

The two sides discussed the problems arising from the large flow of refugees in Europe from Syria, Iraq and other countries along with the unexpected influx of economic migrants from countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Aziz also requested Mogherini to visit Pakistan in early 2016 for the Third Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and EU, which the EU representative accepted.