Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday strongly condemned the ongoing reign of terror in Indian Occupied Kashmir, which led to the death of 12 Kashmiris, including Burhan Wani’s successor Sabzar Bhat on Saturday.

In addition, protesters were fired upon with shotgun pellets by Indian troops as a curfew was imposed in Srinagar and a media blackout was imposed by the Indian government.

“The new round of terror and violence unleashed by India against the Kashmiri people in IOK is nothing short of state terrorism,” Khan asserted.

HE called on the international community to take note of this Indian state terrorism against the Kashmiri people. “This is also a violation not just of the UN Charter and its underlying principle of the right of self-determination, but of all international human rights and humanitarian laws,” he said.

The PTI chief reminded the world that the Indian Occupied Kashmir valley remained the most militarised region of the world. “It is a sad reflection of the state of global politics today that India’s violence and terrorism against unarmed Kashmiri people is being allowed to go unchecked despite multiple international calls for combating all forms of terrorism. The hypocrisy and double standards of the international community have never been so starkly displayed as on the Kashmir issue,” Khan said.

“India’s media blackout, its suspension of Internet services and a re-imposition of the ban on a number of social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, are all reflective of the repressive and authoritarian nature of the Indian government and its troops in IOK,” Khan said.

Imran Khan said that military force could not be used to deny the Kashmiris their basic right to self determination guaranteed to them by the UN Security Council Resolutions. “We will always stand by the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self determination and justice,” he said.

Khan made it clear that no solution to the Kashmir conflict could be valid or viable without the support of the Kashmiri people. “The Kashmiri people must have the right to decide their future,” he said.

Khan also criticised the failure of the present government to forcefully project the Kashmir cause and Indian abuse of human rights and humanitarian laws in IOK, on international forums.

“The Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has also been a shameful failure and must be held accountable.” Khan said. “The personal relationship between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian businessmen has prevented him from speaking forcefully for the Kashmiri people on the multiple international forums,” he said.