Kashmiri people being subjected to worst kind of torture: DG ISPR

(Karachi) Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that innocent people of Kashmir are being subjected to worst kind of torture.

Addressing a news conference in Rawalpindi, he said that pellet guns are being used in the held valley while extra-judicial killing is rampant. "There is no atrocity left which the Kashmiris have not witnessed. Youths are being martyred and being buried in unnamed places in the name of counter-terrorism."

He stated, "Freedom is a huge blessing." He added, "Ask about the importance of freedom from the mother of an occupied Kashmir resident that buries her son with the Pakistan flag."

He said the local Kashmiri leaders are in illegal detention for a year now.

Iftikhar maintained Pakistan highlighted the issue of Kashmir on every platform and Kashmiris' plight before the world. "I salute people of Kashmir who are fighting for freedom."

He said the United Nation has also accepted the fact that resolution of Kashmir issue is imperative for peace in South Asia. "During the past one year, the Kashmir issue has been raised in the UN three times and this shows that the issue is of utmost importance in the eyes of the world," he said.

He highlighted that India is trying to evict the Muslims living in Kashmir by changing the demography of the region as part of a pre-planned conspiracy.

The DG ISPR mentioned that India is using terrorists against Pakistan and is a threat to regional peace and stability.

Regarding ceasefire violation by Indian troops along the Line of Control, Babar said India is using heavy artillery to target civilian population. He pointed out that the Armed Forces of Pakistan will defend civilians in Azad Kashmir.

He said Pakistan Army gives a befitting response to India's ceasefire violations. "Being a professional army we make military targets and target those posts that carry out the firing."

Babar Iftikhar remarked, "Wars cannot be won merely by using weapons. It is necessary to have support of the people."

"Despite the ceasefire appeal by the UN secretary general during the pandemic, India continued their traditional cowardly actions and targeted innocent people."

He said till now, India has committed 1,927 ceasefire violations and has deliberately targeted peaceful people living along the LoC in Azad Kashmir.

"Sixteen innocent people have been martyred while 158 have been injured." Babar said, "Last month, international media toured Azad Kashmir. They were allowed access to the people of AJK; they saw and interacted with the people targeted by the ceasefire violations."

He noted, "But on the other hand, in occupied Kashmir, neither international media nor the UN group was allowed to go to the LoC."

"All clues related to unsuccessful attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange or money laundering to facilitate terrorists lead to India," the DG stated.

He said India had seen an increase in its defence budget and it was involved in an arms race. "India is at the top of the list of countries buying arms. Pakistan is completely aware of India's intentions and capabilities."

To a question over relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the director general said both countries have brotherly and stable relations based on mutual respect.

He said, "The visit of army chief to Saudi Arabia is a planned one and there is no need to raise questions about it."

Responding to a question on Taliban leader Ehsanullah Ehsan's escape from custody, Babar said action is underway against those involved in facilitating his run off. He said that the army gathered important information from Ehsan after his arrest. "The information was used in operations," he said.

Speaking about the Afghan peace talks, Maj Gen Iftikhar said Pakistan played its role for peace in Afghanistan. "We hope that steps taken for reconciliation process prove successful," he added.

"Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan [and] peace along our western borders. So if there is anyone who wants peace in Afghanistan after Afghans, it is Pakistan."

The DG ISPR maintained the way the peace process is going forward, it is also time for a gradual refugee return programme for dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees.

Sharing data from operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, the DG ISPR said: "46,000 murabba kilometre of land has been evacuated from terrorists. More than 18,000 terrorists were killed and 400 tonnes of explosive material was seized."

Under the operation, he said more than 194,000 intelligence-based operations were carried out and more than 70,000 weapons and five million ammunition that was in the use of militants were recovered.

The DG ISPR said measures are being taken at the Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders as part of border management, which includes border terminals, scanner biometric system, border posts, forts and fencing.

He stressed that people on both sides of the frontier will benefit and terrorism can be stopped through managing the border. "As far as Balochistan is concerned, some enemy forces have been trying to disrupt the situation. Pakistan Army is working day and night to foil these attempts and some important progress has been made which will be shared with you at the right time."