India on Wednesday rejected Pakistan’s condemnation of the life imprisonment of Kashmiri separatist Asia Andarabi, leader of the banned group Dukhtaran Millia, and said that Islamabad’s position amounted to condoning violence and the killing of innocent people.
A Delhi court sentenced Andarabi to life imprisonment and sentenced two of her accomplices to 30 years in prison on Tuesday after convicting them under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other laws. Andrabi is the founder of Dokhtaran Millet, a banned terrorist group.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the sentences handed down to the three women and describing the ruling as a “dangerous miscarriage of justice” and a reflection of the “suppression of fundamental rights” in Jammu and Kashmir. The statement also referred to Andrabi as a “prominent Kashmiri political leader.”
Read also: Iran stresses no talks with the United States as Pakistan hands over Trump’s 15-point ceasefire plan
Hours later, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said India rejects “the statement issued by Pakistan in support of a banned terrorist organization and its members.” He said Pakistan “has no right to comment on India’s internal matters or its judicial processes.”
“However, it is not surprising that a country that has long sponsored terrorism would issue such a statement that condones violence and the killing of innocent people,” Jaiswal added.
He said Pakistan should “reflect on the gross and systematic human rights violations it continues to commit” instead of “promoting lies and trivial narratives.”
Read also: ‘I’ll do a number on Kharg Island’: Trump’s 1988 warning to Iran resurfaces as US president pushes for ceasefire
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry described Andarabi as a “strong advocate of the Kashmir issue” and stressed that the “harsh ruling” indicates the shrinking space for political expression in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian side has consistently rejected all Pakistani statements regarding issues related to Kashmir.
According to the charges against Andarabi, she is involved in inciting people in Kashmir to launch an armed rebellion against the Indian government with the support of terrorist groups based in Pakistan. She was also accused of contacting Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, Syed Salahuddin.
