At UN, Pak seeks independent inquiry into killings in Kashmir

Terming Wani's killing as an assassination, Pakistan said the Indian forces were resorting to heavy handed tactics

Notwithstanding India's sharp response, Pakistan has demanded a UN-backed independent and transparent inquiry into the killings in Kashmir, terming the situation there as grave and it is threat to peace and security.

Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi met Under Secretary General Edmond Mullet, the Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and pushed for the probe, according to a press release issued by the Pakistani Mission to the UN on Thursday.

It added that Lodhi briefed Mullet on the brutality by Indian security forces in Kashmir and also raised in her meeting the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, whom she described as a popular Kashmiri youth leader.

Lodhi's comments came a day after India hit back at Pakistan and accused Islamabad of not only pushing in terrorists but also fanning discontent within the Valley by providing support to terrorist outfits.

Terming Wani's killing as an assassination, Lodhi said his killing had set off widespread protests and the Indian forces were resorting to heavy handed tactics including firing on unarmed civilians.

The release said Mullet told Lodhi that the UN Secretary General was concerned about the deteriorating situation in Kashmir and was ready to mediate peace talks between India and Pakistan provided the two neighbours accept his good offices.

Lodhi said the situation in Kashmir should be of grave concern to the international community as it poses a threat to peace and security and called use of an excessive force against civilians, exceedingly deplorable and condemnable.

"Dubbing the Kashmiris agitating for their right to self- determination as 'terrorists' was a travesty of truth and was further inflaming passions," the release quoted her as saying.