Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the killing of four Kashmiris by Indian security forces.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the extra-judicial killing of four more innocent Kashmiris in a fake encounter outside the city of Jammu by the Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” the Foreign Ministry said.
Indian forces said that they killed militants in a shootout on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Over the past year, more than 300 Kashmiris including women and children were killed by Indian forces, the ministry said calling for an independent inquiry into the “extrajudicial killings”.
Read more: Kashmir: Promising child pays price of conflict
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his security forces for their “bravery and professionalism.”
“Neutralising of 4 terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed and the presence of large cache of weapons and explosives with them indicates that their efforts to wreak major havoc and destruction have once again been thwarted,” Modi tweeted.
Neutralising of 4 terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed and the presence of large cache of weapons and explosives with them indicates that their efforts to wreak major havoc and destruction have once again been thwarted.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 20, 2020
“Our security forces have once again displayed utmost bravery and professionalism. Thanks to their alertness,” he added.
Pakistan accused India of running terror cells and camps
Pakistan has accused India of running a network of “terror cells and camps in Afghanistan and on Indian soil” to foment trouble inside Pakistan.
In a joint presser last Saturday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and military Spokesman Gen. Iftikhar Babar played footage and audio of alleged Indian handlers of suspected terrorists. The duo also claimed to have found “cell phone numbers of bank transactions for the sabotage.”
A day later, Qureshi accused India of “conspiring to damage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project by creating unrest in the country.” The CPEC is a flagship project of China’s mammoth Belt and Road Initiate (BRI).
Read more: Indian PM Modi directly running anti-CPEC terror cell
“Pakistan had solid proof that India was trying to create a law and order situation in the country,” he alleged, adding India had spent billions of rupees for the purpose. India has denied the allegations.
However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said “CPEC, as a major pioneering project of the BRI, is important not only to the common development of China and Pakistan, but also to regional connectivity and common prosperity.”
“We are confident that with the support of the international community, China and Pakistan will ensure the smooth and successful building and running of CPEC. We also believe that Pakistan will continue to take effective measures to ensure CPEC’s security,” Zhao added.
Kashmir Dispute
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.
Since they were partitioned in 1947, New Delhi and Islamabad have fought three wars — in 1948, 1965 and 1971 — two of them over Kashmir.
Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan made a strong case that India is a “state sponsor of terrorism”
According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.
Anadolu with additional input by GVS News Desk