On Saturday, the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the residents of PoK not to cross the Line of Control to extend humanitarian aid to the Kashmiri people of the Indian side after India removed the special status of the state two months back.
Imran Khan warns PoK
Khan said in a tweet, “I understand the anguish of the Kashmiris seeing their fellow Kashmiris in Jammu and Kashmir… Anyone crossing the LoC to provide humanitarian aid or support for Kashmiri struggle will play into the hands of the Indian narrative (sic).”
He further added, “A narrative that tries to divert from the indigenous Kashmiris’ struggle against brutal Indian Occupation by trying to label it as “Islamic terrorism” being driven by Pakistan. It will give India an excuse to increase the violent oppression of Kashmiris in IOJK & attack across LoC (sic).”
According to the reports, this advice from the Pakistani PM comes a day after several emotionally charged Kashmiris from different parts of PoK set out in vehicular and motorcycle rallies to Muzaffarabad on the call of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5. Due to this, Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian High Commissioner. Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was its “internal matter”.
Meanwhile, India has been condemning “provocative and irresponsible” statements against it by Khan over the abrogation of provisions of Article 370.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Friday that the comments made by Khan do not behoove the post he holds.
Meanwhile, earlier last month, in his maiden speech at the UNGA, Mr. Khan raised the Kashmir issue and demanded that India must lift the “inhuman curfew” in Kashmir and release all “political prisoners.“
Talking on the same, Mr. Kumar said, “I think he is not unaware of how international relations are conducted. On that basis, he gives such statements. He had given an open call for Jihad against India. This is not normal behaviour.”
