NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday said the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are the result of Pakistan’s “decades-long systemic exploitation and denial of fundamental rights”. The MEA accused Islamabad of responding to public dissent with excessive force instead of addressing people’s grievances.The remarks were made by ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a media briefing, where he also responded to questions on several foreign policy issues, including the ongoing crisis in West Asia.Responding to a question on the protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal said, “The ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are a direct consequence of Pakistan’s decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative operation in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation. Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the local population, the Pakistani state has responded with excessive police brutality... We expect and hope that the international community will hold Pakistan fully accountable for these egregious abuses and misdeeds.”India has consistently maintained that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and has repeatedly accused Pakistan of human rights violations and suppressing the rights of people living in the region.
