India on Tuesday accused Pakistan of spreading false narratives to divert attention from its domestic challenges and alleged human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Addressing the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan was attempting to use fake news to conceal its internal failures.
“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,” Jaiswal said.
Expressing concern over reports of action against protesters in PoJK, Jaiswal referred to alleged incidents of police brutality during demonstrations over economic hardship, governance issues and access to basic services.
“There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in which several protestors have been killed and many injured,” he said, adding that the international community should take note of developments in the region.
“We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The remarks come amid reports of protests in several parts of PoJK over issues including inflation, rising electricity tariffs, governance concerns and political representation. Media reports indicate that clashes between demonstrators and security personnel have resulted in casualties and injuries.
Separately, India also criticised Pakistan at the United Nations over its use of the term “Fitna al Hindustan” to describe militant groups operating within Pakistani territory.
Speaking during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, rejected Pakistan’s allegations that the groups were backed by India.
“Pakistan coming up with official notifications, directing its government agencies to start referring to groups inside its own borders as ‘Fitna al Hindustan’, is nothing but officially sponsored misinformation and disinformation dressed in religious terminology,” Harish said.
He argued that the narrative was intended to divert attention from Pakistan’s domestic political and economic challenges and described it as part of an “organised factory of hate”.
Harish also criticised Pakistan’s military actions in Afghanistan and expressed concern over civilian casualties resulting from cross-border strikes.
“Dressing up a massacre as a military operation does not absolve the perpetrator. Killing, maiming and orphaning civilians is not counter-terrorism,” he said.
The Indian envoy further stated that Pakistan has a history of attributing its internal problems to neighbouring countries rather than addressing underlying issues.
-ANI
