Kashmiri blood won’t go in vain

—Pakistan to observe April 6 as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, send special envoys to inform world about Indian brutalities in Occupied Valley

—Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif warns of full-scale war with India, as Gen Bajwa says India cannot suppress Kashmiris’ freedom struggle

ISLAMABAD/SRINAGAR: The civil and military leaderships of Pakistan on Monday condemned Indian brutalities in Occupied Kashmir valley and announced to observe April 6 as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, a day after Indian security forces killed at least 20 Kashmiris, alleging them of militancy, prompting a complete shutdown in the restive valley for two days.

In Islamabad, a special meeting of the federal cabinet reviewed the current situation arising from the recent killings in IOK. The meeting was chaired by PM Abbasi.

The participants of the meeting strongly condemned the brutal use of force by the Indian occupation forces that resulted in the martyrdom of more than 20 innocent Kashmiris in Shopian and Anantnag areas of the valley. The participants also condemned the suspension of communication channels, especially internet service in the valley, and underscored that such reprehensible Indian attempts that were aimed at silencing the voice of the Kashmiris from reaching the international community would never succeed.

Further, the meeting condemned the draconian laws imposed by India in IOK. It further stressed that the deteriorating situation in occupied Kashmir and the Indian ceasefire violations across the LoC and Working Boundary was a threat to regional peace.

The federal cabinet also adopted a resolution which said that the cabinet members would participate in the joint session of the AJK Legislative Assembly to be held on Wednesday. It also decided to send special envoys of the prime minister, including the president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to selected capitals to highlight the deteriorating situation in IOK.

The meeting requested the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission to send fact finding missions to the IOK. It also reiterated the prime minister’s request to the UN Secretary General to appoint a Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir with a mandate flowing from the unimplemented UN Security Council resolutions.

ASIF WARNS OF FULL SCALE WAR:

Addressing a press conference after the federal cabinet’s meeting, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said that continuing ceasefire violations by Indian security forces along the Line of Control (LoC) could pave way for a major war between the two neighbouring countries.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government would utilise all diplomatic resources to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully. However, the Pakistani military is fully capable of dealing with any situation if a war is imposed, he said.

In a separate statement, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also expressed deep shock and grief on the indiscriminate and vicious killing of Kashmiri youth by the Indian security forces.

The prime minister emphasised that Indian attempts to label the legitimate Kashmir struggle as terrorism cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations (UN) resolutions.

PM Abbasi called on the international community to urge India to allow access to UN observers to lead fact-finding missions to IOK.

Earlier, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned the Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir.

“Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir can never suppress a just and indigenous political struggle for self-determination,” the army chief was quoted as saying in a tweet shared by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor.

“Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir can never suppress a just indigenous political struggle for self determination. Brutalities by Indian Security Forces against innocent Kashmiris in IOK and CFVs along LOC/WB targeting civilians are highly condemnable”, COAS.#KashmirBlackDay

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 2, 2018

Gen Bajwa’s statement comes in the backdrop of a complete shutdown being observed in IOK on Monday where curfew and restrictions were put in place after Indian troops killed at least 20 youths in the restless valley.

The army chief said that the brutalities committed by the Indian security forces against innocent civilians in IOK and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary that targeted civilians were highly condemnable.

Around 13 youth were martyred in a siege and search operation and four died when Indian security forces fired on unarmed protesters on Sunday. Indian forces also attacked funerals in Srinagar. As a result, over 200 civilians were injured and among whom many were reported to be in a critical condition.

TENSE SITUATION IN VALLEY:

Due to the tense situation in the valley, armed police and paramilitary soldiers undertook patrolling missions across the region to clamp down on anti-India protests.

Authorities in IOK issued orders on Monday to ban all mass gatherings in the sensitive parts of the valley after separatist leaders called for a strike.

According to officials, curfews had been imposed in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safakadal, Rainawari, Maharajgung, Soura, Kralkhud, and Maisuma areas of Srinagar.

On the other hand, Indian forces had put separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest. These two leaders along with Yasin Malik had given the call for a two-day strike under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) and asked the people to shut down their businesses in the valley.

Schools and colleges also remained shut on Monday after authorities ordered all educational institutions to remain closed in order to avoid any untoward incident.