India on Tuesday strongly criticized Pakistan over reports of deadly violence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, accused Islamabad of trying to hide its failures through a disinformation campaign, and called on the international community to hold it responsible for alleged human rights violations.
These statements came after reports emerged that more than 20 people were killed and several others injured in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in different parts of Puk City.
In a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan was resorting to “fake news and videos” to divert attention from the situation in the region.
“In this context we continue to see a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan,” Jaiswal said. “It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover up its failures and divert attention away from its human rights violations.”
Expressing concern over reports of repression of protesters, he added: “There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in which many protesters were killed and many injured. We hope that the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and violations.”
The MEA’s comments come amid widespread protests across the Kurdistan region, with residents demonstrating against a range of issues, including economic hardship, governance concerns and the allocation of reserved legislative seats.
According to reports, high inflation rates, rising electricity bills and shortages of basic goods have fueled popular anger in the region. Local media reports also indicated that Pakistani authorities deployed paramilitary forces to contain the unrest, leading to violent confrontations.
Clashes between protesters and security personnel in Rawalakot and other areas reportedly left several people dead and several others injured, sparking calls from various quarters for an independent investigation into the events.
India has repeatedly raised concerns about the human rights situation in Pakistan-occupied territories and on Tuesday reiterated its demand that the international community take note of the developments and hold Islamabad accountable for alleged violations.
