ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office has said that India is deliberately targeting the innocent residents of Kashmir in its continued violations on Line of Control (LoC) that resulted in martyrdom of two innocent civilians on Wednesday.
In his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria strongly condemned the continuous unprovoked violations by India on the LoC.
He said as a result of this unprovoked action, one of our brave soldiers and two civilians embraced `Shahadat’ besides two army personnel and five critically injured due to cowardly act of Indian forces.
The spokesperson said Pakistan armed forces responded effectively causing Indian soldiers suffered five casualties and many sustained injuries.
The spokesperson said to cover its inhuman act, India is continuously heightening tension on the LoC and Working Boundary to divert international attention.
He informed that during this year, Indian forces have carried out 594 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, adding, Indian irresponsible actions pose a direct threat to the security of the region and beyond.
The spokesperson said during last six days, Indian occupation forces in their actions to violently suppress the Kashmiri people, martyred nine Kashmiris identified as Muhammad Abdullah Ganai (60), Mukhtar Ahmad Lone, Parvaiz Ahmad Mir, Showkat Ahmad Lohar, (23), Mudasir Hajam (18) and Rayees Ahmad Bhat in Tral, Islamabad and Bandipore areas.
While at least 138 unarmed Kashmiris were injured after Indian forces fired bullets, pellets and PAVA shells in Srinagar, Pulwama, Tral, Shopian, Kulgam, Bijbehara, Islamabad, Hajin, Sopore, Budgam and Bandipore areas.
He said continued illegal detention of Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Zafar Akbar Bhat, prolonged illegal detention of
Massarat Alam Bhat, Aasiya Andrabiand Fehmeeda Sofi and students under black Law Public Safety Act and constant denial to offer Friday prayers is highly condemnable.
Replying to a query about Afghan situation, he explained that Pakistan believed that there is no military solution of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and our focus should be on peaceful settlement.
He said Pakistan’s efforts in this regard have been acknowledged by many countries including United States.
While appreciating media’s effective role in highlighting the plight of Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK), he said more needs to be done to sensitize the international community and ensure accountability of Indian forces against the impunity with which they perpetrate atrocities in the IoK.
