ISLAMABAD, March 27: Pakistan on Thursday deplored the irresponsible statement of a spokesman for the Indian External Affairs Ministry accusing Pakistan of involvement in the massacre of 24 Kashmiri pundits in Nadimarg.

“Clearly the Indian motivation behind such accusations against Pakistan is to increase repression in Kashmir,” said a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

He said similar allegations were levelled by the Indian government against Islamabad after the massacre of 36 Sikhs in Chatisinghpura on March 20, 2000, and 31 Amarnath yatris at Pehlgam on August 1, 2000.

“These two unfortunate massacres, according to various independent investigations, also turned out to be handiwork of the Indian security agencies,” the spokesman maintained.

Pakistan’s effective role in the international coalition against terrorism has been recognized by the world community, he said.

He said Pakistan remained committed to elimination of this scourge of terrorism and call upon the world to take note of the state-sponsored terrorism in the occupied Kashmir by the extremist Hindu regime in New Delhi.

“Terrorizing of India’s minorities ever since the BJP regime came to power has been documented by the international human rights organization,” he added.—APP