Pakistan condemns killings in Kashmir, calls for international probe

Protesters in Indian administered Kashmir clash with Indian paramilitary soldiers in Srinagar on Sunday, a day after chaotic protests and fighting killed seven civilians and four combatants in the disputed region. (AP)
Updated 16 December 2018
Follow

Pakistan condemns killings in Kashmir, calls for international probe

  • Several people who were demonstrating peacefully shot on Saturday
  • Kashmiri leader calls for another protest on Monday

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reacted sharply to the recent killings in the Pulwama district of Indian-administered Kashmir after a handful of civilians were killed and several others injured on Saturday.

On Sunday, Qureshi urged the “champions of human rights” to prevail upon the administration in New Delhi to “put an immediate halt to the Kashmiri genocide".

According to media reports, seven people were killed and dozens injured on Saturday when Indian forces opened fire at protestors in the valley. 

The incident also prompted Kashmiri leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to call for another demonstration on Monday. He said that the protest would give Indian troops yet another opportunity to “kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily.”

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement wherein it said that “despite hollow Indian claims, Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally-recognized dispute, pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council.” 

"The mindless killing spree carried out by the Indian occupation forces on Saturday is yet another example of the Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris. India continues to kill and maim, under the garb of ‘combating terror’. In Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, every man, woman or a child who protests against India’s illegal occupation and brutalities against innocent and hapless Kashmiris, is a ‘terrorist’," the statement added.

The foreign ministry reiterated Qureshi’s demand that “India has to allow investigations by an independent fact-finding commission of the OCHCR, OIC, and IPHRC into the ongoing gross human rights violations in IoK and to fulfill its obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.”


Pakistan PM calls for faster CPEC implementation, pledges security for Chinese workers

Updated 27 February 2026
Follow

Pakistan PM calls for faster CPEC implementation, pledges security for Chinese workers

  • Shehbaz Sharif pushes expanded cooperation in agriculture, IT and mining under CPEC phase two
  • Chinese envoy reaffirms Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic development

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for speeding up projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and pledged stronger security guarantees for Chinese workers and investments, during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Islamabad.

Sharif made the remarks as the two countries strive to launch the second phase of CPEC, a multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy initiative launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

CPEC’s first phase focused largely on power generation and transport infrastructure aimed at easing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and improving connectivity. The second phase seeks to expand cooperation into industrial development, with an emphasis on special economic zones and export-oriented growth.

“While highlighting the importance of accelerating ongoing CPEC projects, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to enhance cooperation in agriculture and IT and mining & minerals,” said a statement circulated by the PM Office after the meeting.

“He also underscored Pakistan’s resolve to provide a secure and conducive environment for Chinese personnel, investments, and institutions in Pakistan,” it added.

Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan have faced security threats in the past, including attacks by militant groups targeting infrastructure sites and convoys. Islamabad has repeatedly vowed to tighten security and has deployed special protection units for Chinese workers.

China is Pakistan’s closest ally in the region and a key economic partner, with CPEC widely regarded by Islamabad as central to long-term economic growth.

During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, particularly on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, reiterated Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and socioeconomic development, according to the statement. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues and agreed to maintain close coordination.