After more than 20 unarmed protesters were killed in police action across the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Ministry of External Affairs slammed Islamabad's "brutality" against innocent civilians.
The ministry was referring to the Pakistani forces fatally shooting protesters from the Joint Awami Action Committee in Rawalakot, killing at least 27 people. Unconfirmed reports suggest the number of casualties could be higher than what was officially declared.
Calling on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its "abuses", India said Islamabad has been making "desperate" attempts to cover up its "failings".
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan is trying to divert attention from its human rights abuses. "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 cited reports about severe police brutality in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, wherein several protesters were killed and many others injured. "We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses," he added.
Besides Rawalakot, there have been protests across Muzaffarabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Mirpur, Dadial, Tattapani and Sudhnoti.
The MEA response comes a day after India slammed Pakistan at the UN for referring to groups inside its own borders as "Fitna al-Hindustan". New Delhi said the Islamabad move is nothing but "officially sponsored misinformation and disinformation dressed in religious terminology."
In 2025, the Pakistani government officially designated all terrorist groups and organisations operating in Balochistan province 'Fitna al Hindustan', alleging, without giving any proof, that the outfits indulged in terrorism at India's behest.
During the UNSC meeting on Monday, India also deplored Islamabad's airstrikes against Afghanistan, which has resulted in huge civilian casualties and suffering to the Afghan people. "Let me reiterate. Dressing up a massacre as a military operation does not absolve the perpetrator. Killing, maiming and orphaning civilians is not counter terrorism," said India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni.
"Blaming neighbours for its own failures is an old Pakistani habit. This attempt to hoodwink the world will fail," the envoy added.
