NEW DELHI: India on Thursday alleged that the protests in India-held Kashmir during observance of ‘Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day’ and ‘Black Day’ were led by UN-designated terrorists.
In a statement issued by Indian Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi said: "We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to Jammu and Kashmir over the last two days. We have also noted that the events were led by UN-designated terrorists.
It went on to state that the groups which led the protests in India-held Kashmir were the same which had in the past “protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan”.
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India strongly condemns the encouragement and support which such terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan, it read.
“We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner.”
The India foreign ministry maintained that the observance of "Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day” exposes Pakistan’s longing for the territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi urged Islamabad to stop “misleading” the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises.
“In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the Government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan,” the statement concluded.
Indian security forces on Wednesday had removed dozens of black and Pakistani flags in India-held Kashmir hoisted by residents observing “black day” on the call of Pakistan government to protest the killing of a top pro-independence militant leader.
Indian administration feared fresh trouble in the tense region after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for observing a “black day” to express solidarity with “Kashmiris facing atrocities at the hands of Indian forces”.
In a statement, Nawaz had said, “India should realise that when people decide to do something, the weapons cannot stop their way.”
Rubbishing Indian claim of Kashmir being its internal matter, Nawaz said: “Kashmir cannot be accepted as an internal matter of India as it has been declared a disputed territory by the United Nations.”