Systematic HR violations in held Kashmir 'crime against humanity': Fatemi

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi on Thursday referred to the systematic and grave human rights violations in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir being committed by the Indian occupation forces, as crime against humanity.

Briefing the Islamabad-based ambassadors of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the continuing grave human rights violations in held Kashmir, he condemned the Indian brutalities in the held territory, resulting in killing of more than 115 innocent people and injuring more than 16, 000.

“Over 1, 000 people have been injured due to the use of pellet guns by the Indian occupation forces and more than 160 have become permanently blind,” he said.

While appreciating the continued support of the OIC for the Kashmir cause, as reflected in the unanimous passage of resolution on Kashmir by 43rd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on 19th of last month in Tashkent, he urged the OIC countries to continue to condemn the Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir and play an effective role to end the bloodshed.

He referred to Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir as the oldest unresolved disputes on the agenda of the UN Security Council. He called for vigorous efforts for the resolution of both these disputes, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Tariq Fatemi also highlighted the escalated situation at the LOC and the working boundary, resulting from the unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations from the Indian side.

He said that the Indian government had deliberately escalated tension to divert international attention away from its grave human rights violations in the held territory.

“A number of innocent people have lost their lives due to unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces,” he said.
The special assistant also briefed the ambassadors over the continued Indian state-sponsored subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan.