India told to end Kashmir ‘aggression’

The brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killing, is deplorable

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi,

Pakistan Prime Minister

islamabad — Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has accused India of launching a “brutal crackdown” in Kashmir and expressed deep shock and grief at the indiscriminate and vicious killing of at least 17 Kashmiri youth in the Indian-controlled Kashmir by Indian forces.

Abbasi’s statement late on Sunday night came after Indian security forces on Sunday killed 13 militants in three counter-insurgency operations that also claimed the lives of three armymen and four civilians in Anantnag and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killing is deplorable,” Abbasi said. He asked the international community to urge India to allow access to fact finding missions of the UN to Kashmir.

The prime minister emphasised that Indian attempts to label the legitimate Kashmir struggle as terrorism cannot deter the people of Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The Foreign Office, meanwhile, also condemned the killing of the Kashmiris adding that India has suspended internet connectivity to drown the voices of people.