Pakistan conveys serious concern to India over killings in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Pakistan has conveyed its serious concerns to India over the recent killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and civilians by the Indian military and paramilitary forces in the Occupied Kashmir. A statement said the Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale was summoned to the Foreign Office on Monday and informed by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry that use of excessive force against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings was "deplorable". The Indian High Commissioner was also informed that it was "a blatant violation of the rights to life, freedom of expression and opinion, peaceful protest, peaceful assembly and other fundamental rights." The firing by Indian security forces on peaceful protesters, has so far led to killings of over 30 innocent people while more than 300 have been injured, 50 of them critically. The Foreign Secretary said such brutal use of force was not acceptable under any circumstance. He called for fair and transparent inquiry against individuals responsible for these killings. Pakistan emphasized that "oppressive measures could not deter the valiant people of the Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions." The Foreign Secretary reiterated Pakistan's call on the Indian government to fulfil its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.