Indian troops martyr three more Kashmiris in IOK

JAMMU/ISLAMABAD/HELD SRINAGAR: In Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK), Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred three Kashmiri youth in Rajouri district.

The troops martyred the youth during a cordon and search operation at Khari Thrayat in Nowshera area of the district. The operation launched by the troops on Tuesday was going on till the last reports came in.

Earlier, two Indian soldiers identified as Naik Sawant Sandip Raghu Nath and Rifleman Arjun Magar were killed in an attack in the same area on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Indian police during a house raid arrested a youth in Gund area of Ganderbal district.

Meanwhile, Pakistan called the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) a “humanitarian nightmare” which is characterised by a continued military lockdown and complete communication blackout as IOJK remained under lockdown for 151 days. “Over 8 million people in the IOJK remain cut-off from the world, with continued concerns being raised about lack of medical supplies and other basic needs”, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in her maiden weekly press briefing on Thursday.

Pakistan called upon the Indian government to immediately restore internet and mobile phone services, release all prisoners, especially civil society members and the abducted young children, remove Public Safety Act and other draconian laws, and allow the independent media and international human rights observers to visit the region to independently observe the situation of the Kashmiri people.

The spokesperson pointed out that Pakistan is continuing to sensitise the international community regarding the sufferings of the people of IOJK and the humanitarian crisis brewing there. “This is not just Pakistan’s concern but of all those who believe in the rule of law and believe in human rights. I don’t agree that there is a lull in our diplomatic campaign to raise awareness on this matter, our efforts continue. We will continue to raise this matter on every international forum and at every bilateral interaction”, she added.

Meanwhile, Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, on Thursday said she was detained by police at her residence here after she tried to visit the grave of her grandfather and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in south Kashmir.

Iltija, a Special Security Group protectee, said she had sought permission to visit her grandfather's grave in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district. "I have been detained at home and not allowed to move anywhere," Iltija told Indian media.

However, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Munir Khan denied that Iltija was detained and said "the Ananantnag district administration did not give clearance for her visit". "We also have to keep in mind that she is an SSG protectee who has to take police clearance before visiting anywhere," Khan added.

Barricades have been erected at Gupkar road which leads to the 'Fairview' residence belonging to Iltija's mother and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is under preventive detention since August 5. Mediapersons were not allowed by police to reach the residence and the road was open only for security personnel and residents of the high-security area of the city.

"I wanted to go to visit my grandfather's grave. It is my right. Is it a crime for a granddaughter to visit her grandfather's grave or do they think I am going to organise stone pelting or a protest there," Iltija said. She accused the civil and the police administrations of being "arrogant", alleging "they do not want peace in the Valley".

Meanwhile, Pakistan has given a shut up call to the new Indian Army Chief Gen Naravane, rejecting his threats to Pakistan and reminding him of Pakistan’s ‘resolve and readiness’, while suggesting that India would be well-advised to look inwards and curb the growing “saffron terror”, which is increasingly a matter of concern for the international community.

“We reject the new Indian Army Chief's irresponsible statement regarding “pre-emptive strikes” across the LoC inside Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). There should be no doubt about Pakistan’s resolve and readiness to thwart against any aggressive Indian move, inside its territory or AJK. No one should forget Pakistan’s befitting response to India’s Balakot misadventure”, spokesperson at the Foreign Office responded.

She pointed out that despite India's provocations, Pakistan will continue contributing to all efforts of promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.

Gen Naravane immediately after taking over was quoted by the Indian media as saying, “If Pakistan does not stop its policy of state-sponsored terrorism, we reserve the right to pre-emptively strike at the sources of terror threat and this intent has adequately been demonstrated in our response during surgical strikes and Balakot operation." He added that a "strategy of resolute punitive response" has been evolved to tackle cross-border terrorism."

“We deplore the continuing proclivity of Indian political as well as military leaders to fabricate “facts” with regard to “terrorism” or situation along the Line of Control (LoC) as part of their attempts to mislead the world and with the possible intention of staging some “false flag” operation”, added the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said in spite of these threats, Pakistan reaffirms its unflinching support and solidarity with the Kashmiri people as the inhuman lockdown in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJK) reaches 151st-day.

Later at the weekly media briefing at the Foreign Office, the spokesperson stated that a ‘special session’ of OIC Foreign Ministers’ is also envisaged, for which work remains in progress. She was asked whether the sole objective of the OIC Foreign Minister’s meeting in April was to discuss the dispute of Jammu & Kashmir.

“The 47th regular Session of Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) OIC is scheduled to be held in Niger in April 2020. Furthermore, Pakistan has already offered to host the 48th regular session of the CFM in Islamabad in 2021 as well”, she responded.

In this regard the spokesperson recalled the emergency session of the contact group on Jammu & Kashmir which was called on Pakistan’s request on 6th August, 2019 as a result of which the OIC IPHRC delivered a strong statement condemning India’s atrocities in IOJK. “Subsequently, in September, the OIC Contact Group spearheaded by the Foreign Minister issued a Ministerial Communique on the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, on the sidelines of the UNGA”, she said.

While there is continuing criticism that the OIC could do more on Kashmir the spokesperson pointed out to the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission which recently held an unprecedented public session on human rights situation in IOJK. “We are working to optimally utilise all the OIC mechanisms to highlight the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in the IOJK”, she said.