Designating Kashmir’s self-determination supporters as terrorists unjustified: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Tuesday has said that it is unjust to designate the supporters of Kashmiri right to self-determination as terrorists. 

The statement issued after a day when the United States State Department designated Hizbul Mujahideen’s supreme commander Syed Salahuddin as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)’ and imposed sanctions on him.

“The 70 year old indigenous struggle of Kashmiris in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains legitimate. The designation of individuals supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination as terrorists is completely unjustified.,” said foreign office spokesperson Nafeez Zakeria.

“The gross and systematic violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people in India-occupied Kashmir that have been recorded and reported by independent human rights bodies is a reality.”

The statement also gave an account to the gross and systematic violations of

human rights of the Kashmiri people in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. “Over the past one year the world has witnessed an intensification of the brutal policies of repression being pursued by the Indian occupation forces,” the statement reads.

Salahuddin who is also known as Mohammad Yusuf Shah, is the leader of the largest militant group that fights against the security forces in India-held Kashmir. The development surfaced hours ahead of the scheduled meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

The spokesman said that Pakistan has a demonstrated and longstanding commitment of combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“The people and government of Pakistan have rendered immense sacrifices in both blood and treasure to end this scourge, which has been acknowledged by the international community,” he said.