Source The Hindu
NEW DELHI — India has issued a sharp rebuke against Islamabad over its heavy-handed military crackdown on civilian demonstrators in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), calling on international bodies and the global community to scrutinize the region and hold Pakistani authorities accountable.
Speaking at a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the Pakistani establishment’s “ruthless use of force” against local citizens. The regional tension has escalated significantly amid local body elections, resulting in over 40 civilian deaths and widespread injuries since security forces intensified their crackdown.
Escalating Violence and Public Outrage
Civil unrest in PoJK has been mounting for weeks, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Protesters have taken to the streets across major urban centers—including Muzaffarabad, Rawalkot, and Mirpur—demanding subsidies on basic commodities like electricity and wheat flour, alongside civil liberties and political rights.
The crackdown intensified when the Pakistani administration deployed military and paramilitary units to quell local governance election protests. The MEA spokesperson noted that the Pakistani establishment demonstrated “absolute disdain” for local residents, highlighting statements by senior officials who publicly categorized civilian protesters as “enemies of the state”.
“This crackdown has resulted in the tragic death of over 40 civilians and serious injuries to many. Facing a violent regime, the people have requested international organizations for an independent investigation into these unlawful killings. We urge that the international community should scrutinize Pakistan’s actions and hold it accountable for its atrocities.”
— Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Official Spokesperson
Blowback of State-Sponsored Militancy
Highlighting the complex security dynamics in the region, Jaiswal referenced admissions from senior Pakistani political figures regarding internal security blowback. Specifically, he cited remarks acknowledging that militant outfits historically nurtured by the state have increasingly turned inward against domestic authorities.
“The Special Assistant of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Affairs has openly admitted that the very mujahideen that the Pakistani establishment trained, funded, armed, and sent to India have turned their guns inward, weaponizing themselves against the state,” Jaiswal stated.
Firm Reaffirmation on Sovereignty
In response to recent international media commentary and diplomatic exchanges regarding the territorial designation of the region, New Delhi reiterated its long-standing constitutional stance.
Reaffirming India’s sovereign position, the MEA emphasized that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, remains an integral and inalienable part of India. New Delhi emphasized that no amount of state repression or external rhetoric can alter this legal and territorial reality.
