ISLAMABAD: Rejecting Indian accusations of fo­me­n­ting trouble in held Kashmir, Pakistan on Thursday said that it would continue moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri independence struggle and raise the issue of human rights violations by Indian forces in the Human Rights Council.

“Pakistan will approach the Human Rights Council of the United Nations on its own behalf and on behalf of OIC Contact Group on Kashmir to send a fact-finding mission to occupied Kashmir to investigate the slaughter of innocent civilians; and impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest,” Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said at a media briefing at the Foreign Office.

The adviser highlighted the actions taken by the government to support Kash­miri struggle and draw the world’s attention to human rights excesses being perpetrated by Indian forces since the start of the current phase of uprising in the valley on July 9 following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, whom he hailed as an “icon of the resistance movement in held Kashmir”.

Around 50 people have been killed and more than 3,500 injured as Indian security forces employed excessive force to quell the protests.

Pakistan will continue moral, political, diplomatic support for Kashmiri independence struggle

Around 400 injured are reportedly in critical condition and more than 70 of them are feared to have become permanently blind due to use of pellet guns.

“Such a brutal use of force is a blatant violation of fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, especially the right to life. It is a clear manifestation of state terrorism to suppress Kash­miri’s voice for the right to self-determination,” he said.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs had in a statement criticised the Pakistani support for the Kashmir uprising saying: “India asks Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of the country.”

Rebuffing the Indian position, Mr Aziz said: “The just struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination cannot be equated with terrorism.”

He further said: “The spontaneous and widespread uprising proves that Kashmiris’ struggle is indigenous.” He rejected Indian accusations against Pakistan of stirring troubles in held Kashmir.

Mr Aziz also rejected the Indian contention that Kashmir was its internal matter.

“The Indian attempts to claim that the deteriorating human rights situation in held Kashmir is an internal affair of India is factually incorrect, legally untenable and indeed a violation of international law and UNSC resolutions,” he emphasised.

India, he noted, would not be able to legitimise its occupation by suppressing the voice of Kashmiris.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2016