Pakistan condemns Indian army officer’s remarks supporting rape, death in Kashmir: FO

• Dr Faisal says terrorism and extremism is rising in India.
• FO spokesperson says letter claiming death of abducted colonel is fake.
• Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal under the international law: FO

(Karachi) Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan condemns the remarks of former Indian general in a talk show supporting rape and death in Kashmir.

Addressing a weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Dr Faisal said terrorism and extremism is rising in India. “It is high time for the Indian society to decide as to which way they are embarking upon.”

He maintained India should immediately end lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir and restore internet and mobile phone services. He demanded the Indian government to release all the prisoners that were detained illegally.

The foreign office spokesperson said India should allow human rights observers to visit occupied valley to observe the ground situation.

“The continued lockdown has paralysed the lives of Kashmiri people who have been isolated from the rest of the world,” he said.

He pointed out that the people of Kashmir are not being allowed to offer Friday prayers in mosques.

Regarding the letter claiming death of abducted colonel Habib Zahir, Dr. Faisal said it appears to be fake.

He remarked, “It looks like a campaign of sensationalization has been initiated by hostile agencies against Pakistan. He said Pakistan and the family of Colonel Habib Zahir are extremely concerned about his whereabouts, who was kidnapped more than two years ago from an area in Nepal close to Indian border.

To a question on a reported incident of desecration of Quran in a Norwegian city, he said Pakistan condemn the incident in strong words. He said the Muslims respect other religions and they expect the followers of other religions to also respect their religious sentiments.

When asked about the US's endorsement of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the spokesperson said Pakistan's policy regarding this issue remains unchanged and it considers all the Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal under the international law.