India slams Pakistan after reports of over 20 deaths in PoK protest crackdown

India on Tuesday (June 9) criticised Pakistan over reports of violence against demonstrators in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), accusing Islamabad of attempting to divert attention from its own record on human rights.

India raises PoK protest crackdown

The statement comes amid reports that more than 20 people were killed during police action against protesters in different parts of PoK.

Speaking to reporters, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan was engaged in efforts to conceal its domestic shortcomings through misinformation.

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"We continue to see in this context, a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover-up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses," he said.

Jaiswal also referred to reports of casualties resulting from the crackdown on protesters.

"There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in which several protestors have been killed and many injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses," Jaiswal added.

Targets Pakistan at UN

India also came down hard on Pakistan during a United Nations Security Council discussion on Afghanistan, condemning what it described as military strikes on Afghan territory and restrictions affecting Afghan trade.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, said Pakistan's air operations had inflicted civilian suffering and undermined regional stability.

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"Pakistan's campaign of military airstrikes against Afghanistan is causing huge civilian casualties and suffering to the Afghan people...Such unconscionable acts of violence are a blatant assault on Afghanistan's sovereignty and a threat to the region's peace and stability," he said.

Citing information from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Parvathaneni said hundreds of civilians had been killed or injured during the opening months of the year.

"No faith, no law and no morality can justify such actions,” he said.

'Dressing up massacre as military operation'

He further stated that “dressing up a massacre as a military operation does not absolve the perpetrator. Killing, maiming and orphaning civilians is not counter terrorism."

Parvathaneni also criticised Pakistan's decision to label militant groups within its borders as "Fitna al Hindustan", describing it as "officially sponsored misinformation and disinformation dressed in religious terminology."

“This is an outcome of an organised factory of hate coming from the deep state of Pakistan," he said, while adding that "blaming neighbours for its own failures is an old Pakistani habit."

(With agency inputs)