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ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP):Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi on Friday said that Pakistan has expressed grave concern over the latest wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions of Kashmiri civilians in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), following a recent bomb blast incident in New Delhi.
In response to media queries, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said the actions by Indian authorities further highlight the ongoing and serious human rights violations in the occupied territory.
Ambassador Andrabi said the prevailing situation marked by widespread detentions, indiscriminate arrests, and extensive curbs on fundamental freedoms amounted to the collective punishment of the Kashmiri population. He noted with deep concern reports that Kashmiri youth were being profiled solely on the basis of their identity and faith.
The spokesperson said India was continuing its efforts to alter the demographic character of the occupied region and undermine the religious, cultural, and social identity of the Kashmiri people. These measures, he added, appeared to be part of a deliberate strategy to suppress the legitimate political aspirations of the Kashmiris.
Ambassador Andrabi pointed out that thousands of Kashmiri youth remained missing, while numerous genuine political representatives were still incarcerated. “Such coercive measures cannot weaken the Kashmiri people’s resolve to achieve their internationally recognized right to self-determination,” he asserted.
Pakistan, he said urged the international community including the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take full cognizance of the grave and persistent rights abuses in IIOJK.
The spokesperson called on these bodies to press India to take immediate corrective steps, ensure accountability for documented violations, and allow credible international human rights organizations unfettered access to conduct impartial assessments.
Ambassador Andrabi reiterated that a just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, remained essential for achieving durable peace and stability in South Asia.