Pak's allegation about violations of human rights in Kashmir 'a joke': BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday reacted strongly to Pakistan's remarks over alleged violation of human rights in Kashmir and said such statements from a country with dismal law and order need not be taken seriously.

BJP spokesperson G. V. L. Narasimha Rao said Pakistan should instead look at its own record of human rights.

"Pakistan's allegation about violations of human rights in Kashmir is indeed a very joke. We don't take such jokes seriously. In Pakistan, there is nothing called law and order. There is nothing called maintenance of human rights," he said.

The Congress Party too condemned Pakistan's statement, calling it 'highly objectionable'.

"The Pakistan High Commission has come out with a statement, which is highly objectionable. I think Pakistan should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of India. Kashmir is an integral part of India. Anything happening in Kashmir is internal matter of India," said senior Congress leader P. C. Chacko.

Meanwhile, security expert Qamar Agha said that Pakistan was trying to disrupt the situation in Kashmir.

"Pakistan is directly trying to disrupt the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has no business to issue such type of statement. It should be condemned by all political parties," he said.

Expressing concern at the increase in systematic human rights violations in Kashmir, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam in a statement today said that Islamabad condemns the brutal use of force by the Indian security forces against peaceful and unarmed protesters, resulting in the killing of two Kashmiri young men.