UN High Commissioner for Human Rights'&nbsp;report on the situation in <a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-to-turn-pok-into-pakistans-economic-engine-claims-former-diplomat-228735">Pakistan-occupied Kashmir</a> is "highly dubious" as it has failed to address the deplorable human rights situation in the region despite having all "invaluable insights", a researcher at an Amsterdam-based foundation told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

"In its first-ever report on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights states that 'restrictions on the freedoms of expression, opinion, peaceful assembly and association in PoK have limited the ability of the High Commissioner to assess the human rights situation there'&nbsp;completely disregards the invaluable insights shared at this August platform by numerous human rights activists, including those from the area itself, into the deplorable human rights situation there and atrocities committed by the Pakistani State in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan," Yoana Barakova, a research analyst with the Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), said.

"The failure of the Office of the High Commissioner, to address said issues, not only renders the correctness and neutrality of this Report highly dubious," she added.

Barakova made these remarks during the ongoing 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

The researcher observed that the report also labelled UN-designated terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed as "armed groups".

"The report glosses over cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan's security agencies, while it labels UN-designated terrorist organisations, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed as armed groups, negating UN parlance and contradicting the terminology of the UN Security Council's consolidated list of terrorist individuals and entities," she noted.

"The report also failed to make any recommendations imperative to the dismantling of the operation of these terrorist groups and their terrorist infrastructure," Barakova added.&nbsp;

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is "highly dubious" as it has failed to address the deplorable human rights situation in the region despite having all "invaluable insights", a researcher at an Amsterdam-based foundation told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is "highly dubious" as it has failed to address the deplorable human rights situation in the region despite having all "invaluable insights", a researcher at an Amsterdam-based foundation told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). "In its first-ever report on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights states that 'restrictions on the freedoms of expression, opinion, peaceful assembly and association in PoK have limited the ability of the High Commissioner to assess the human rights situation there' completely disregards the invaluable insights shared at this August platform by numerous human rights activists, including those from the area itself, into the deplorable human rights situation there and atrocities committed by the Pakistani State in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan," Yoana Barakova, a research analyst with the Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), said. "The failure of the Office of the High Commissioner, to address said issues, not only renders the correctness and neutrality of this Report highly dubious," she added. Barakova made these remarks during the ongoing 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. The researcher observed that the report also labelled UN-designated terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed as "armed groups". "The report glosses over cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan's security agencies, while it labels UN-designated terrorist organisations, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed as armed groups, negating UN parlance and contradicting the terminology of the UN Security Council's consolidated list of terrorist individuals and entities," she noted. "The report also failed to make any recommendations imperative to the dismantling of the operation of these terrorist groups and their terrorist infrastructure," Barakova added.

UN report on situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is highly dubious: Researcher

Massive protest was organised by the Kashmiri diaspora outside Pakistan High Commission in London. Watch this video to know more.

Anti-Pak protests in London

They are in hundreds, accompanied&nbsp;by their kids, seeking help from Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan. The Pakistani wives of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/time-for-kashmiri-pandits-to-come-back-home-with-dignity-215557">Kashmiris</a> who crossed over the Line of Control(LoC) to pick arms and returned to India under a rehabilitation scheme feel stuck now.

Hundreds of them are demanding to either grant them Indian citizenship so that they can travel or deport them back to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Hailing from different parts of Pakistan, these women landed in India with their families through Nepal under a policy for Kashmiris who crossed LoC for arms training. The policy was later discontinued by the Centre in 2016.

They allege the authorities denied&nbsp;them travel to visit their families in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir(POK), even some of them have been divorced by their Kashmiri husbands, leaving them with no option. Some even face domestic abuse.

"We are at least 300 to 350 women here. We haven't been able to return back or visit our families there. Some have committed suicide due to depression. We haven't been able to travel back, even today, my sister is getting married and I am here, protesting," says Toiba, a resident of Abbottabad.

In 2010, the former chief minister Omar Abdullah had announced a rehabilitation policy for those who crossed over between 1989 to 2009 which saw several Kashmiris returning back. These women say that they don't have any identity living in the valley.&nbsp;

Nabeela hails from Abbottabad district in eastern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She married a Kashmiri boy in 2008, and as soon as the rehabilitation policy was announced, her husband along with her three children, decided to return home but all didn't go well.&nbsp;

She says her documents were seized in Nepal by the Indian authorities and since then she is living without any identity. Nabeela left her then one-year-old daughter behind due to issues with her travel documents. Her daughter, now nine, frequently asks them about their reunion.&nbsp;

"We aren't state subjects, we don't have a local identity card. My three kids ask me regularly when will we go to Pakistan to meet my grandmother? I have left my nine-year-old daughter in Pakistan due to some document issue," says Nabeela while holding her daughter.&nbsp;

The government, however, says these women came through Bangladesh and Nepal and not by the approved routes, hence making them ineligible for benefits under the policy.

They are in hundreds, accompanied by their kids, seeking help from Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan. The Pakistani wives of Kashmiris who crossed over the Line of Control(LoC) to pick arms and returned to India under a rehabilitation scheme feel stuck now.

They are in hundreds, accompanied by their kids, seeking help from Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan. The Pakistani wives of Kashmiris who crossed over the Line of Control(LoC) to pick arms and returned to India under a rehabilitation scheme feel stuck now. Hundreds of them are demanding to either grant them Indian citizenship so that they can travel or deport them back to Pakistan. Hailing from different parts of Pakistan, these women landed in India with their families through Nepal under a policy for Kashmiris who crossed LoC for arms training. The policy was later discontinued by the Centre in 2016. They allege the authorities denied them travel to visit their families in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir(POK), even some of them have been divorced by their Kashmiri husbands, leaving them with no option. Some even face domestic abuse. "We are at least 300 to 350 women here. We haven't been able to return back or visit our families there. Some have committed suicide due to depression. We haven't been able to travel back, even today, my sister is getting married and I am here, protesting," says Toiba, a resident of Abbottabad. In 2010, the former chief minister Omar Abdullah had announced a rehabilitation policy for those who crossed over between 1989 to 2009 which saw several Kashmiris returning back. These women say that they don't have any identity living in the valley. Nabeela hails from Abbottabad district in eastern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She married a Kashmiri boy in 2008, and as soon as the rehabilitation policy was announced, her husband along with her three children, decided to return home but all didn't go well. She says her documents were seized in Nepal by the Indian authorities and since then she is living without any identity. Nabeela left her then one-year-old daughter behind due to issues with her travel documents. Her daughter, now nine, frequently asks them about their reunion. "We aren't state subjects, we don't have a local identity card. My three kids ask me regularly when will we go to Pakistan to meet my grandmother? I have left my nine-year-old daughter in Pakistan due to some document issue," says Nabeela while holding her daughter. The government, however, says these women came through Bangladesh and Nepal and not by the approved routes, hence making them ineligible for benefits under the policy.

Pakistani wives of ex-terrorists demand Indian citizenship or deportation

India on Thursday had suspended trade with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-of-india-suspends-loc-trade-with-pakistan-says-route-being-misused-211563">Pakistan at the Line of Control</a>(LoC), among several reasons was infiltration of third-party goods such as California almonds, when in fact, LoC trade was opened for only intra-Kashmir trade.&nbsp;

What India found was that almonds produced in California were being traded through the LoC and later used to fuel terror in the state by providing hawala money.

The national investigating agency(NIA) was able to find out modus operandi of dubious hawala transactions for terror financing.&nbsp;

Terror groups, identifying themselves as Pakistani trade firms, used to hand over the money to terrorist organizations on the Indian side through the hawala route. Some of the Pakistani firms had a close association with terror groups like Hizbul Mujahideen.

Pakistani traders under invoiced products like California almonds which they received.&nbsp;

On receipt of the consignment, a trader on the Indian side sold the California almonds at the prevailing market price and made extra and undue profit to the extent of under-invoicing.&nbsp;

The extra money generated was handed over by the trader to terrorist organizations in the Valley to fuel anti-India operations.

Basically, Rs 1,200 per kg almonds were under invoiced to Rs 200. On the Indian side, almonds were sold at Rs 1,200, thus getting a profit of Rs 1,000 and addition Rs 1,000 from terror groups from Pakistan.&nbsp;

The Enforcement Directorate(ED) has already chargesheeted businessman Zahoo Ahmed Watali who was the president of LoC traders association. He was found to be funnelling money to terrorists, separatists and subversive elements in the Valley.&nbsp;

Other than funding terror, the trade route had become a channel of funnelling drugs such as cocaine, brown sugar and heroine and supply of arms to support terrorists in the Valley.&nbsp;

Upto 66.5 kg heroin was seized from a Valley-based consignee and the drugs came through the LoC trade. A large cache that was concealed in a consignment of bananas was seized from across the LoC from a driver from Kulgam in the Valley.

The route had become a way to pump fake currency notes - Rs 57 lakh, Rs 20 lakh, Rs 15 lakh&nbsp;and Rs 7.5 lakh&nbsp;- &nbsp;fake currency notes were&nbsp;seized at different time.

Trade was allowed through two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) at Salamabad in Uri, part of the Baramulla district and at Chakkan-da-Bagh in the Poonch district.&nbsp;

The cross-LoC trade was started in 2008 as part of Confidence Building Measures by India and Pakistan for trade between Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir(POK) for 21 agreed items on barter system.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-suspends-cross-loc-trade-with-pakistan-in-jammu-and-kashmir-211807/embed" width="560"></iframe></div>

India on Thursday had suspended trade with Pakistan at the Line of Control(LoC), among several reasons was infiltration of third-party goods such as California almonds, when in fact, LoC trade was opened for only intra-Kashmir trade.

India on Thursday had suspended trade with Pakistan at the Line of Control(LoC), among several reasons was infiltration of third-party goods such as California almonds, when in fact, LoC trade was opened for only intra-Kashmir trade. What India found was that almonds produced in California were being traded through the LoC and later used to fuel terror in the state by providing hawala money. The national investigating agency(NIA) was able to find out modus operandi of dubious hawala transactions for terror financing. Terror groups, identifying themselves as Pakistani trade firms, used to hand over the money to terrorist organizations on the Indian side through the hawala route. Some of the Pakistani firms had a close association with terror groups like Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistani traders under invoiced products like California almonds which they received. On receipt of the consignment, a trader on the Indian side sold the California almonds at the prevailing market price and made extra and undue profit to the extent of under-invoicing. The extra money generated was handed over by the trader to terrorist organizations in the Valley to fuel anti-India operations. Basically, Rs 1,200 per kg almonds were under invoiced to Rs 200. On the Indian side, almonds were sold at Rs 1,200, thus getting a profit of Rs 1,000 and addition Rs 1,000 from terror groups from Pakistan. The Enforcement Directorate(ED) has already chargesheeted businessman Zahoo Ahmed Watali who was the president of LoC traders association. He was found to be funnelling money to terrorists, separatists and subversive elements in the Valley. Other than funding terror, the trade route had become a channel of funnelling drugs such as cocaine, brown sugar and heroine and supply of arms to support terrorists in the Valley. Upto 66.5 kg heroin was seized from a Valley-based consignee and the drugs came through the LoC trade. A large cache that was concealed in a consignment of bananas was seized from across the LoC from a driver from Kulgam in the Valley. The route had become a way to pump fake currency notes - Rs 57 lakh, Rs 20 lakh, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh - fake currency notes were seized at different time. Trade was allowed through two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) at Salamabad in Uri, part of the Baramulla district and at Chakkan-da-Bagh in the Poonch district. The cross-LoC trade was started in 2008 as part of Confidence Building Measures by India and Pakistan for trade between Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir(POK) for 21 agreed items on barter system.

How trade in California almonds through LoC route funded terror in J&K

A large number of protesters took to streets here earlier this week, after law enforcement agencies arrested some youth for raising their voice against the administration. The protest was staged after a local died allegedly due to the negligence of doctors and the absence of an adequate healthcare system in the region.

People raised anti-government slogans and sought an immediate release of arrested youth.

Local leaders demanded the administration to expeditiously deliver justice, "warning" the authorities with consequences if it continued with "oppressive measures."

"If you want to shoot somebody, shoot us. I want to say this to Superintendent of Police and DC to immediately quash this FIR against the boys and release them. They have just asked for a hospital, nothing more," a protester said.

"This type of injustice will not be given any space in Palandari. They won't able to suppress youth the way they want to. They will come out and the establishment and the local administration of Palandari will be responsible for damages occurring due to this," they added.

Locals have claimed that the hospitals and dispensaries in the region are of negligible benefit to them since doctors are rarely available and those who are there are very few in number.

People are seen swarming and choking the outpatient clinics and emergency rooms where specialist doctors are spare and treatment options limited, the protesters said during the agitation.

They also highlighted that successive governments in the region have traded the blame for the "appalling" healthcare situation.

"We are not some animals. We are humans. You all get treatment Islamabad and other parts of the world. People are being meted out with atrocities and injustice. They don't do our ultrasound citing power failures. We don't get the results of our tests. How are we going to receive treatment if there is no proper diagnosis?" another protester said, voicing their disappointment with local administration.

"Seven incidents similar to yesterday's have happened in the past. We condemn that people are being mistreated instead of receiving treatment. Be dutiful. Do your work. If the working strength of doctors is 22 then all should be available," the protester further stated.

The people have earlier asked for an expansion to the doctor's team in the region, but their pleas seem to have been falling.

With no relief in sight for the people who are bearing the brunt of this acute situation, the region can be called one of the least healthcare equipped places.

Due to no meaningful response by the government, the people have grown disillusioned, the protesters outlined.

A large number of protesters took to streets here earlier this week, after law enforcement agencies arrested some youth for raising their voice against the administration.

A large number of protesters took to streets here earlier this week, after law enforcement agencies arrested some youth for raising their voice against the administration. The protest was staged after a local died allegedly due to the negligence of doctors and the absence of an adequate healthcare system in the region. People raised anti-government slogans and sought an immediate release of arrested youth. Local leaders demanded the administration to expeditiously deliver justice, "warning" the authorities with consequences if it continued with "oppressive measures." "If you want to shoot somebody, shoot us. I want to say this to Superintendent of Police and DC to immediately quash this FIR against the boys and release them. They have just asked for a hospital, nothing more," a protester said. "This type of injustice will not be given any space in Palandari. They won't able to suppress youth the way they want to. They will come out and the establishment and the local administration of Palandari will be responsible for damages occurring due to this," they added. Locals have claimed that the hospitals and dispensaries in the region are of negligible benefit to them since doctors are rarely available and those who are there are very few in number. People are seen swarming and choking the outpatient clinics and emergency rooms where specialist doctors are spare and treatment options limited, the protesters said during the agitation. They also highlighted that successive governments in the region have traded the blame for the "appalling" healthcare situation. "We are not some animals. We are humans. You all get treatment Islamabad and other parts of the world. People are being meted out with atrocities and injustice. They don't do our ultrasound citing power failures. We don't get the results of our tests. How are we going to receive treatment if there is no proper diagnosis?" another protester said, voicing their disappointment with local administration. "Seven incidents similar to yesterday's have happened in the past. We condemn that people are being mistreated instead of receiving treatment. Be dutiful. Do your work. If the working strength of doctors is 22 then all should be available," the protester further stated. The people have earlier asked for an expansion to the doctor's team in the region, but their pleas seem to have been falling. With no relief in sight for the people who are bearing the brunt of this acute situation, the region can be called one of the least healthcare equipped places. Due to no meaningful response by the government, the people have grown disillusioned, the protesters outlined.

Locals protest against crumbling healthcare system in Pakistan occupied Kashmir

Two Pakistani fighters were detected on Tuesday night going supersonic 10 kms from the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Poonch sector, following which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-to-50-killed-in-indian-air-strike-on-pakistans-balakot-italian-journalist-quoting-eyewitness-200787">India has put its air defence systems on high alert</a>, government sources said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Loud bangs were heard in the area due to the sonic booms, they said.&nbsp;

In the wake of the development, all Indian air defences and radar systems are on high alert, the sources said.&nbsp;

On February 27, Pakistani fighters had transgressed into the Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir and tried to target Indian military positions before they were chased away.&nbsp;

In the dogfight, one F-16 fighter of Pakistan Air Force was shot down by the Indian Air Force, which also lost a MiG-21 Bison plane.&nbsp;

Subsequently, there have been a number of instances of Pakistani drones trying to engage in reconnaissance in India.&nbsp;

Two Pakistani fighters were detected on Tuesday night going supersonic 10 kms from the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Poonch sector, following which India has put its air defence systems on high alert, government sources said on Wednesday.

Two Pakistani fighters were detected on Tuesday night going supersonic 10 kms from the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Poonch sector, following which India has put its air defence systems on high alert, government sources said on Wednesday. Loud bangs were heard in the area due to the sonic booms, they said. In the wake of the development, all Indian air defences and radar systems are on high alert, the sources said. On February 27, Pakistani fighters had transgressed into the Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir and tried to target Indian military positions before they were chased away. In the dogfight, one F-16 fighter of Pakistan Air Force was shot down by the Indian Air Force, which also lost a MiG-21 Bison plane. Subsequently, there have been a number of instances of Pakistani drones trying to engage in reconnaissance in India.

Pakistani jets went supersonic over PoK Tuesday night, Indian air defence systems on high alert

Activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have condemned the Pulwama terror attack and asked Islamabad to dismantle all terror camps operating in PoK and parts of Pakistan.

At an event held on the sidelines of the 40th Session of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Monday, while focusing on the threat of extremism and terrorism, the activists said that not only the region but the entire world is suffering from its menace.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman of United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) accused the Pakistani army of using terrorists for its proxy war against India.

He said, “Pakistan’s Army officials are now openly asking Kashmiris to stop using light weapons and go for suicide attacks. It is being openly preached by retired Army Generals. It is an alarming situation. We, people, love peaceful co-existence as our state is multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic. If Pakistan is continuously promoting extremism and terrorism, our state will be divided into thousand pieces on the basis of sects because we have Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims”.

Asserting that Pakistan is using religion, Kashmiri added, “Extremism is not in favour of any person. But, unfortunately, Pakistan loses its wisdom and always using terrorism as a weapon. They are using religion; they are using terrorism that’s why entire Pakistan is suffering. Pakistan’s civil society’s voice is suppressed by the terrorists and mullahs. Why? If any peaceful organisation is holding a protest against terrorism, against human rights violations these mullahs carry out attacks on these peaceful demonstrators. So, we are in a very critical situation, that’s why we are asking UN Human Rights Council and the world community to intervene and ask Pakistan to change its mind and send a fact-finding mission so that all the terrorist infrastructure which is very much intact in PoK should be dismantled”.

Misfar Hassan, another panellist and human rights activist from PoK said, “We have witnessed in history for the past 71 years that there have been attacks and counterattacks. With respect to the recent attack, the Pulwama attack, both the countries came closer to the brink of war and the whole world was shivering that both powers are nuclear and if anything goes wrong it could be proving catastrophic for the world”.

He added, “This is the time to review the situation, to dismantle all these terror operating groups wherever they are, be it in Pakistan occupied Kashmir or they are operating in Pakistan. Pakistan government needs to take some responsibility and get rid of these non-state actors because they are not only destroying the local but international peace.”&nbsp;

Activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have condemned the Pulwama terror attack and asked Islamabad to dismantle all terror camps operating in PoK and parts of Pakistan.

Activists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have condemned the Pulwama terror attack and asked Islamabad to dismantle all terror camps operating in PoK and parts of Pakistan. At an event held on the sidelines of the 40th Session of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Monday, while focusing on the threat of extremism and terrorism, the activists said that not only the region but the entire world is suffering from its menace. Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman of United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) accused the Pakistani army of using terrorists for its proxy war against India. He said, “Pakistan’s Army officials are now openly asking Kashmiris to stop using light weapons and go for suicide attacks. It is being openly preached by retired Army Generals. It is an alarming situation. We, people, love peaceful co-existence as our state is multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic. If Pakistan is continuously promoting extremism and terrorism, our state will be divided into thousand pieces on the basis of sects because we have Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims”. Asserting that Pakistan is using religion, Kashmiri added, “Extremism is not in favour of any person. But, unfortunately, Pakistan loses its wisdom and always using terrorism as a weapon. They are using religion; they are using terrorism that’s why entire Pakistan is suffering. Pakistan’s civil society’s voice is suppressed by the terrorists and mullahs. Why? If any peaceful organisation is holding a protest against terrorism, against human rights violations these mullahs carry out attacks on these peaceful demonstrators. So, we are in a very critical situation, that’s why we are asking UN Human Rights Council and the world community to intervene and ask Pakistan to change its mind and send a fact-finding mission so that all the terrorist infrastructure which is very much intact in PoK should be dismantled”. Misfar Hassan, another panellist and human rights activist from PoK said, “We have witnessed in history for the past 71 years that there have been attacks and counterattacks. With respect to the recent attack, the Pulwama attack, both the countries came closer to the brink of war and the whole world was shivering that both powers are nuclear and if anything goes wrong it could be proving catastrophic for the world”. He added, “This is the time to review the situation, to dismantle all these terror operating groups wherever they are, be it in Pakistan occupied Kashmir or they are operating in Pakistan. Pakistan government needs to take some responsibility and get rid of these non-state actors because they are not only destroying the local but international peace.”

PoK activists condemn Pulwama terror attack at UNHRC, asks Pakistan to dismantle terror camps

Pakistan's Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in a case regarding the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the grant of fundamental rights to its residents.

A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on January 7 took up a set of petitions challenging the 'Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018', 'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009', as well as the right of the citizens of the area to be governed through their chosen representatives, the Dawn reported.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018 was earlier opposed by protesters from the region who demanded that the area should be declared a part of Pakistan instead of being administered through presidential orders.

Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now. Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh are the four provinces of Pakistan.

India has termed as "entirely unacceptable" any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region as the fifth province. India has also protested to China over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which goes through Gilgit-Baltistan region.

It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status.

The federal government's proposed reforms draft states that it intends to grant the region the status of a provisional province, "subject to the decision of the plebiscite to be conducted under the UN resolutions", with all privileges provided by the Constitution.

However, the draft states, the move would require an amendment in the Constitution, which needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament and "would take time". Therefore, as an interim measure, the government plans to give such fundamental rights to GB residents as enjoyed by the people of any other province.

The Attorney General Anwar Mansoor informed the bench that objections have been raised on the proposed draft in the Cabinet and therefore as of now, "it remains only a draft".

He informed the court that the funds allocated for higher courts in the region have been transferred from the territory's government to the GB Council.

The Government of Pakistan can also increase the number of judges in GB, he added.

At this, the chief justice inquired what the procedure of the judges' appointment would be. Mansoor responded that the GB council has been given the authority to legislate in this regard.

Justice Nisar observed that an appeal cannot be filed against a decision of the GB Supreme Appellate Court in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The GB law minister during the hearing stated that the region's government desired the implementation of recommendations made by the Sartaj Aziz-led committee.

"It's (almost) impossible, but we have come very close to it's [fulfilment]," he added.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan — a senior counsel who has also been appointed by the apex court as amicus curiae (friend of the court) — noted that the government has expressed its intention to first declare GB a provisional province, and later grant it the status of a full-fledged province.

He said although Parliament would pass any constitutional amendment brought before it regarding GB, Pakistan's stance on Kashmir would be weakened by making Gilgit-Baltistan a full province.

After hearing all sides, the bench reserved its judgement in the case and ordered the reforms committee to submit additional details after holding consultations regarding fundamental rights, legislation and judicial autonomy in GB.

Pakistan's Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in a case regarding the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the grant of fundamental rights to its residents.

Pakistan's Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in a case regarding the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the grant of fundamental rights to its residents. A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on January 7 took up a set of petitions challenging the 'Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018', 'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009', as well as the right of the citizens of the area to be governed through their chosen representatives, the Dawn reported. The Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018 was earlier opposed by protesters from the region who demanded that the area should be declared a part of Pakistan instead of being administered through presidential orders. Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now. Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh are the four provinces of Pakistan. India has termed as "entirely unacceptable" any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region as the fifth province. India has also protested to China over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which goes through Gilgit-Baltistan region. It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status. The federal government's proposed reforms draft states that it intends to grant the region the status of a provisional province, "subject to the decision of the plebiscite to be conducted under the UN resolutions", with all privileges provided by the Constitution. However, the draft states, the move would require an amendment in the Constitution, which needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament and "would take time". Therefore, as an interim measure, the government plans to give such fundamental rights to GB residents as enjoyed by the people of any other province. The Attorney General Anwar Mansoor informed the bench that objections have been raised on the proposed draft in the Cabinet and therefore as of now, "it remains only a draft". He informed the court that the funds allocated for higher courts in the region have been transferred from the territory's government to the GB Council. The Government of Pakistan can also increase the number of judges in GB, he added. At this, the chief justice inquired what the procedure of the judges' appointment would be. Mansoor responded that the GB council has been given the authority to legislate in this regard. Justice Nisar observed that an appeal cannot be filed against a decision of the GB Supreme Appellate Court in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The GB law minister during the hearing stated that the region's government desired the implementation of recommendations made by the Sartaj Aziz-led committee. "It's (almost) impossible, but we have come very close to it's [fulfilment]," he added. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan — a senior counsel who has also been appointed by the apex court as amicus curiae (friend of the court) — noted that the government has expressed its intention to first declare GB a provisional province, and later grant it the status of a full-fledged province. He said although Parliament would pass any constitutional amendment brought before it regarding GB, Pakistan's stance on Kashmir would be weakened by making Gilgit-Baltistan a full province. After hearing all sides, the bench reserved its judgement in the case and ordered the reforms committee to submit additional details after holding consultations regarding fundamental rights, legislation and judicial autonomy in GB.

Pak SC reserves verdict in case concerning constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit leadership led by Awami Action Committee has been vigorous in its endeavours to get freedom from the clutches of Pakistan, which has been misruling the region for more than seven decades.

Besides carrying out massive demonstrations and rallies, the besieged people are using every arrow in their quiver to put up a strong resistance against the authorities of Islamabad, who have been extremely authoritarian in dealing with public issues in the region.

In its recent move, the leaders from Gilgit-Baltistan, staving off the potential of any further degradation in the relationship with Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) leadership has sought integration of two separate struggles of GB and PoK citing it would infuse more energy to the anti-Pakistan resistance.

Maulana Sultan Raees, the Chairman of the Awami Action Committee said, "Our history is neither taught in PoK nor in Gilgit-Baltistan. We have our own history. However, keeping aside that curriculum we are taught the history of Pakistan which has now been memorised even by our children."

The rapacious government of Pakistan has left the people of Gilgit-Baltistan reeling under abject poverty. They have not just meted out a novercal treatment to the region but have introduced several draconian laws to govern the territory with extreme high handedness, according to the committee. An already grim situation has further deteriorated with security forces unleashing barbarity of highest degree by implicating the youth under false charges of Anti-Terrorism Act.

"Draconian laws have been imposed on the people of the region. If anybody talks of his rights or representation, he is implicated under the Anti- Terrorism Act (ATA). Atrocities are meted out at the pretext of schedule IV. Here, nobody raises his or her voice whenever a wrong is done in Gilgit Baltistan," Raja Mir Nawaz Mir, the Chairman of the Ghizer Action Committee remarked.

Indigenous people in Gilgit-Baltistan have, for years, been asking Pakistan to set the region free. However, their demands for a region free of Pakistani rule has fallen on deaf ears of successive regimes of Islamabad.

Gilgit leadership led by Awami Action Committee has been vigorous in its endeavours to get freedom from the clutches of Pakistan, which has been misruling the region for more than seven decades.

Gilgit leadership led by Awami Action Committee has been vigorous in its endeavours to get freedom from the clutches of Pakistan, which has been misruling the region for more than seven decades. Besides carrying out massive demonstrations and rallies, the besieged people are using every arrow in their quiver to put up a strong resistance against the authorities of Islamabad, who have been extremely authoritarian in dealing with public issues in the region. In its recent move, the leaders from Gilgit-Baltistan, staving off the potential of any further degradation in the relationship with Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) leadership has sought integration of two separate struggles of GB and PoK citing it would infuse more energy to the anti-Pakistan resistance. Maulana Sultan Raees, the Chairman of the Awami Action Committee said, "Our history is neither taught in PoK nor in Gilgit-Baltistan. We have our own history. However, keeping aside that curriculum we are taught the history of Pakistan which has now been memorised even by our children." The rapacious government of Pakistan has left the people of Gilgit-Baltistan reeling under abject poverty. They have not just meted out a novercal treatment to the region but have introduced several draconian laws to govern the territory with extreme high handedness, according to the committee. An already grim situation has further deteriorated with security forces unleashing barbarity of highest degree by implicating the youth under false charges of Anti-Terrorism Act. "Draconian laws have been imposed on the people of the region. If anybody talks of his rights or representation, he is implicated under the Anti- Terrorism Act (ATA). Atrocities are meted out at the pretext of schedule IV. Here, nobody raises his or her voice whenever a wrong is done in Gilgit Baltistan," Raja Mir Nawaz Mir, the Chairman of the Ghizer Action Committee remarked. Indigenous people in Gilgit-Baltistan have, for years, been asking Pakistan to set the region free. However, their demands for a region free of Pakistani rule has fallen on deaf ears of successive regimes of Islamabad.

Activists call for integration of struggles of Gilgit-Baltistan, PoK

The Congress on Friday reached out to the people displaced from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/massive-anti-pak-protests-continue-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-35369">Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)</a>, who were on an indefinite chain dharna in Jammu since December 27 demanding implementation of '2014 package', and urged the Centre to hold talks with them.

The displaced people from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/first-you-captured-our-kashmir-now-our-plots-pok-kashmiris-to-pakistan-army-142355">PoK</a> have been on a chain hunger strike here against the state and central governments for not "fulfilling" their various demands including 2014 package approved by the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet in October 2014.

"Our Congress-NC government had made recommendations in 2014 by recommending a package for the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/anti-pakistan-protests-across-pok-to-mark-1947-invasion-22724"> PoK </a>displaced persons involving around Rs 9,096 crore. Every family was to be given Rs 25 lakh per family and reservation of their children in professional colleges as per Kashmir migrants. But nothing has been done", J&amp;K senior vice president of Congress and former Minister Sham Lal Sharma told reporters in Jammu.

On the contrary, the Centre announced a package of Rs 2,000 crore which too was not implemented in letter and spirit, Sharma claimed.

"Government of India (GoI) can talk to militants and those raising anti-India slogans and can release militants and stonepelters, but not to us, who are patriotic Indians to core", Sharma said.

The Congress leader said Government of India should talk to them and urge the Prime Minister to talk to them to fulfil their demands.

The main demand of the PoK displaced persons is the implementation of the 2014 package.

The other demands include grant of facilities to all displaced at par with valley migrants, reservation of eight seats for PoK DPs in Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, permission to visit their religious places in PoK, return of their cash deposits lying with J&amp;K Bank, Mirpur, with interest and bringing 5,300 PoK DP families living outside the state within the ambit of the 2014 package.

Rajiv Chuni, chairman of SOS International, an organization representing the PoK displaced persons (DP), also presented a memorandum of their demands to Sharma.&nbsp;

The Congress on Friday reached out to the people displaced from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), who were on an indefinite chain dharna in Jammu since December 27 demanding implementation of '2014 package', and urged the Centre to hold talks with them.

The Congress on Friday reached out to the people displaced from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), who were on an indefinite chain dharna in Jammu since December 27 demanding implementation of '2014 package', and urged the Centre to hold talks with them. The displaced people from PoK have been on a chain hunger strike here against the state and central governments for not "fulfilling" their various demands including 2014 package approved by the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet in October 2014. "Our Congress-NC government had made recommendations in 2014 by recommending a package for the PoK displaced persons involving around Rs 9,096 crore. Every family was to be given Rs 25 lakh per family and reservation of their children in professional colleges as per Kashmir migrants. But nothing has been done", J&K senior vice president of Congress and former Minister Sham Lal Sharma told reporters in Jammu. On the contrary, the Centre announced a package of Rs 2,000 crore which too was not implemented in letter and spirit, Sharma claimed. "Government of India (GoI) can talk to militants and those raising anti-India slogans and can release militants and stonepelters, but not to us, who are patriotic Indians to core", Sharma said. The Congress leader said Government of India should talk to them and urge the Prime Minister to talk to them to fulfil their demands. The main demand of the PoK displaced persons is the implementation of the 2014 package. The other demands include grant of facilities to all displaced at par with valley migrants, reservation of eight seats for PoK DPs in Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, permission to visit their religious places in PoK, return of their cash deposits lying with J&K Bank, Mirpur, with interest and bringing 5,300 PoK DP families living outside the state within the ambit of the 2014 package. Rajiv Chuni, chairman of SOS International, an organization representing the PoK displaced persons (DP), also presented a memorandum of their demands to Sharma.

Congress demands implementation of 2014 package for people displaced from PoK

Members of the Jammu and Kashmir United Peace Movement (JKUPM) Saturday protested in Jammu against the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pulwama-encounter-in-jk-8-civilians-3-militants-and-one-soldier-among-12-dead-184239">killings in the valley</a> and advocated dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem.

The protesters assembled at Exhibition Ground and staged a peaceful sit-in on a day when seven civilians, three militants and an army soldier were killed and scores of others injured in a gunfight and subsequent protests in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

"We have assembled here to seek an end to the killings, spread the message of peace and highlight the need to maintain communal harmony," chairman JKUPM Himmat Singh Singh told PTI.

He said the unabated violence in Kashmir and the loss of human lives on a daily basis should be put to an end which was possible only when the concerned parties start a meaningful dialogue.

"Kashmir has become a flashpoint in the sub-continent and a major hurdle in the development of South Asia. Bullet is not a solution to the problem," he said.

Former minister Baba Singh said the unrealistic approach of the successive governments at the centre and state is the root cause of the prevailing situation in the valley.

"We demand immediate end to the human rights violations. Kashmir is a dispute pending solution since 1947,? he said advocating a trilateral approach involving India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir to address the issue.

He said JKUPM will launch a massive campaign across the state and the country to press for solution to the Kashmir problem through a meaningful dialogue.&nbsp;

Members of the Jammu and Kashmir United Peace Movement (JKUPM) Saturday protested in Jammu against the killings in the valley and advocated dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem.

Members of the Jammu and Kashmir United Peace Movement (JKUPM) Saturday protested in Jammu against the killings in the valley and advocated dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem. The protesters assembled at Exhibition Ground and staged a peaceful sit-in on a day when seven civilians, three militants and an army soldier were killed and scores of others injured in a gunfight and subsequent protests in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. "We have assembled here to seek an end to the killings, spread the message of peace and highlight the need to maintain communal harmony," chairman JKUPM Himmat Singh Singh told PTI. He said the unabated violence in Kashmir and the loss of human lives on a daily basis should be put to an end which was possible only when the concerned parties start a meaningful dialogue. "Kashmir has become a flashpoint in the sub-continent and a major hurdle in the development of South Asia. Bullet is not a solution to the problem," he said. Former minister Baba Singh said the unrealistic approach of the successive governments at the centre and state is the root cause of the prevailing situation in the valley. "We demand immediate end to the human rights violations. Kashmir is a dispute pending solution since 1947,? he said advocating a trilateral approach involving India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir to address the issue. He said JKUPM will launch a massive campaign across the state and the country to press for solution to the Kashmir problem through a meaningful dialogue.

JKUPM protests killings in valley, advocates dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue

India lodges formal protest against Pakistan

India today lodged a formal protest <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-diplomat-walks-out-of-saarc-meet-after-pakistans-invitation-to-pok-minister-182625">against Pakistan for inviting POK</a> minister at SAARC(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Chamber of Commerce event last week in Islamabad.

The protest note was lodged at the SAARC secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal.

WION accessed&nbsp;the Indian protests in which it said that Pakistan had invited renegade entity from the area of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan. Such step by SCCI(SAARC&nbsp;Chamber of Commerce and Industry)&nbsp;is in violation of the SAARC charter and principles, India stated.

SCCI has breached guidelines and obligations meant for SAARC apex bodies by indulging in political activities, India said in its letter.

India asked for "strict action" from SCCI.

Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua had said last week that Islamabad was ready to host the South Asian summit, two years after India had pulled out after the terror attack on the Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in September, 2016.

Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also decided to stay away from the meeting.

Last month PM Modi had turned down Pakistan's invite for the SAARC summit, speaking on Pakistan announcement, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said unless and until "Pakistan stops terror activities in India, there will be no dialogue. So we will not participate in SAARC."

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli had said earlier that his country was ready to facilitate the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Pakistan.

India today lodged a formal protest against Pakistan for inviting POK minister at SAARC(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Chamber of Commerce event last week in Islamabad.

India today lodged a formal protest against Pakistan for inviting POK minister at SAARC(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Chamber of Commerce event last week in Islamabad. The protest note was lodged at the SAARC secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal. WION accessed the Indian protests in which it said that Pakistan had invited renegade entity from the area of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan. Such step by SCCI(SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is in violation of the SAARC charter and principles, India stated. SCCI has breached guidelines and obligations meant for SAARC apex bodies by indulging in political activities, India said in its letter. India asked for "strict action" from SCCI. Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua had said last week that Islamabad was ready to host the South Asian summit, two years after India had pulled out after the terror attack on the Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in September, 2016. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also decided to stay away from the meeting. Last month PM Modi had turned down Pakistan's invite for the SAARC summit, speaking on Pakistan announcement, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said unless and until "Pakistan stops terror activities in India, there will be no dialogue. So we will not participate in SAARC." Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli had said earlier that his country was ready to facilitate the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Pakistan.

India lodges protest against Pak over POK minister's presence in SAARC meet in Islamabad

Registering a strong protest at the SAARC charter meeting held in Islamabad Indian diplomat Shubham Singh left the meet after Pakistan invited the PoK minister Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed to speak at the dais.&nbsp;

The diplomat left the SAARC meet when Pakistan gave the platform to Pok minister.

India has not released any official response in the matter.

This is yet another attempt in recent past where Pakistan has tried to push its agenda and propagate it's legitimacy to PoK.

During Imran Khan swearing-in ceremony too, cricketer Sidhu was made to sit next to the PoK prime minister.

 
&nbsp;

Registering a strong protest at the SAARC charter meeting held in Islamabad Indian diplomat Shubham Singh left the meet after Pakistan invited the PoK minister Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed to speak at the dais.

Registering a strong protest at the SAARC charter meeting held in Islamabad Indian diplomat Shubham Singh left the meet after Pakistan invited the PoK minister Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed to speak at the dais. The diplomat left the SAARC meet when Pakistan gave the platform to Pok minister. India has not released any official response in the matter. This is yet another attempt in recent past where Pakistan has tried to push its agenda and propagate it's legitimacy to PoK. During Imran Khan swearing-in ceremony too, cricketer Sidhu was made to sit next to the PoK prime minister.

Indian diplomat walks out of SAARC meet after Pakistan's invitation to PoK minister

Exiled political activists from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels to protest against Pakistan-sponsored atrocities and plundering of resources in the region.

The activists raised slogans against Islamabad blaming it for the construction of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project and Diamer Bhasha Dam that has not only severely affected the flora and fauna of the region, but have left the common people reeling under abject poverty.

"We are here in Brussels in front of the European Parliament demonstrating against the plundering of the natural resources of Kashmiri people (in Pakistan). We are here to protest against the state brutality and for the people who are suffering because of the policies of the Pakistani government. We are actually protesting against their policies, their nefarious designs," said Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP).

Another UKPNP activist, named Jamil Maqsood, said, "The fundamental purpose of this demonstration was to highlight the human rights violations in the Pakistan administered Kashmir and occupied Gilgit-Baltistan because Pakistan is constructing Neelum Jhelum hydropower project and Diamer Bhasha dam in Gilgit Baltistan and in both these areas, people have been asked to leave their properties and leave their land without paying them any alternative land and without paying them any compensation".

He added, "In Muzaffarabad, they (Pakistani government) have diverted Neelum river which is at the brink of extinction. It is completely destroyed and approximately hundreds of thousands of people in Neelum, Muzaffarabad and other lower riparian areas are deprived of the basic necessity of water."

Activists from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Mohajirs also joined the protest to raise the issue of human rights violations as Islamabad has employed similar repressive patterns in their provinces.

Pakistan has been according to a second-class citizen treatment to the people of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh. This diabolic pattern of suppressing its own people has witnessed a significant escalation since the advent of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Exiled political activists from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels to protest against Pakistan-sponsored atrocities and plundering of resources in the region.

Exiled political activists from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels to protest against Pakistan-sponsored atrocities and plundering of resources in the region. The activists raised slogans against Islamabad blaming it for the construction of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project and Diamer Bhasha Dam that has not only severely affected the flora and fauna of the region, but have left the common people reeling under abject poverty. "We are here in Brussels in front of the European Parliament demonstrating against the plundering of the natural resources of Kashmiri people (in Pakistan). We are here to protest against the state brutality and for the people who are suffering because of the policies of the Pakistani government. We are actually protesting against their policies, their nefarious designs," said Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP). Another UKPNP activist, named Jamil Maqsood, said, "The fundamental purpose of this demonstration was to highlight the human rights violations in the Pakistan administered Kashmir and occupied Gilgit-Baltistan because Pakistan is constructing Neelum Jhelum hydropower project and Diamer Bhasha dam in Gilgit Baltistan and in both these areas, people have been asked to leave their properties and leave their land without paying them any alternative land and without paying them any compensation". He added, "In Muzaffarabad, they (Pakistani government) have diverted Neelum river which is at the brink of extinction. It is completely destroyed and approximately hundreds of thousands of people in Neelum, Muzaffarabad and other lower riparian areas are deprived of the basic necessity of water." Activists from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Mohajirs also joined the protest to raise the issue of human rights violations as Islamabad has employed similar repressive patterns in their provinces. Pakistan has been according to a second-class citizen treatment to the people of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh. This diabolic pattern of suppressing its own people has witnessed a significant escalation since the advent of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

PoK activists hold anti-Pak protest outside European Parliament

India today rejected the <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/jk-terrorists-abduct-indian-army-soldier-from-pulwama-144334">United Nations report which called </a>for an inquiry into abuses in "Indian-administered Kashmir" as well as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir".&nbsp

India said the UN report on human rights violation in Kashmir was "fallacious, tendentious and motivated". UN report on Kashmir violates India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry of external affairs said.

In a first of its kind report, the UN said there was an urgent need to address the past and ongoing human rights violations, "any resolution to the political situation in Kashmir should entail a commitment to ending the cycles of violence and accountability for past and current human rights violations."

Specifically named "Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir: Developments in the Indian State of J-K from June 2016 to April 2018, and General Human Rights Concerns in Azad J-K and Gilgit-Baltistan", it noted there were a variety of "armed groups operating" in the&nbspIndian state of J&K.

"Despite the Government of Pakistan's assertions of denial of any support to these groups, experts believe that Pakistan's military continues to support their operations across the Line of Control in Indian-Administered Kashmir," the report said. &nbsp

It said that there was documented evidence of these groups committing human right abuses, including kidnappings and killings of civilians.

The report said, "the people on both sides of the Line of Control have been detrimentally impacted and suffer from limitations or denial of a range of human rights."

The report asked for urgent repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990 and to "immediately remove the requirement for prior central government permission to prosecute security forces personnel accused of human rights violations in civilian courts."

It said that there was documented evidence of these groups committing human right abuses, including kidnappings and killings of civilians.

India today rejected the United Nations report which called for an inquiry into abuses in "Indian-administered Kashmir" as well as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir". India said the UN report on human rights violation in Kashmir was "fallacious, tendentious and motivated". UN report on Kashmir violates India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry of external affairs said. In a first of its kind report, the UN said there was an urgent need to address the past and ongoing human rights violations, "any resolution to the political situation in Kashmir should entail a commitment to ending the cycles of violence and accountability for past and current human rights violations." Specifically named "Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir: Developments in the Indian State of J-K from June 2016 to April 2018, and General Human Rights Concerns in Azad J-K and Gilgit-Baltistan", it noted there were a variety of "armed groups operating" in the&nbspIndian state of J&K. "Despite the Government of Pakistan's assertions of denial of any support to these groups, experts believe that Pakistan's military continues to support their operations across the Line of Control in Indian-Administered Kashmir," the report said. It said that there was documented evidence of these groups committing human right abuses, including kidnappings and killings of civilians. The report said, "the people on both sides of the Line of Control have been detrimentally impacted and suffer from limitations or denial of a range of human rights." The report asked for urgent repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990 and to "immediately remove the requirement for prior central government permission to prosecute security forces personnel accused of human rights violations in civilian courts."

UN report on J&K is fallacious, tendentious and motivated: India

Locals of Kotli district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have accused Pakistani security forces of illegal encroachment.

The residents also launched agitation against the illegal encroachment of their land by the Pakistan Army.

Since past few years there has been a growing resentment against Pakistan among the residents of the illegally-occupied region.

United Kashmir People's National Party Chairman Shaukat Ali Kashmiri said, "the army encroaches farmers' land which is fertile and ideally located. Land grabbing is being done by implementing Army Act. Now, the army has begun encroaching private land and houses allotted to them as per new housing scheme. Cases have been reported in Kotli, Neelam Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Bagh. Land grabbing incidents are happening across PoK."

He further said that the ruling governments, be it PML (N), PPP or PTI, all have maintained silence on these incidents.

"They have failed to raise any issued concerning the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Only, the local political parties have been raising the issues and the people are protesting against the forceful encroachment by the Army on people's private lands," he added.

Meanwhile, a member of United Kashmir People's National Party Jamil Maqsood also accused Pakistan military of occupying lands illegally, saying, before this the military of Pakistan had already occupied one playground in district Kotli.

"They are occupying all the important places, business areas, business places, commercial land," Maqsood added.

Locals in illegally-occupied PoK and Gilgit Baltistan often stage protests against Pakistan's ill treatment.

The residents blame Pakistan for exploiting their resources and for being responsible for the poverty and underdevelopment in the region.

Various leaders and activists also accuse the Pakistani Army and intelligence agencies of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in the region.

The residents also launched agitation against the illegal encroachment of their land by the Pakistan Army

Locals of Kotli district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have accused Pakistani security forces of illegal encroachment. The residents also launched agitation against the illegal encroachment of their land by the Pakistan Army. Since past few years there has been a growing resentment against Pakistan among the residents of the illegally-occupied region. United Kashmir People's National Party Chairman Shaukat Ali Kashmiri said, "the army encroaches farmers' land which is fertile and ideally located. Land grabbing is being done by implementing Army Act. Now, the army has begun encroaching private land and houses allotted to them as per new housing scheme. Cases have been reported in Kotli, Neelam Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Bagh. Land grabbing incidents are happening across PoK." He further said that the ruling governments, be it PML (N), PPP or PTI, all have maintained silence on these incidents. "They have failed to raise any issued concerning the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Only, the local political parties have been raising the issues and the people are protesting against the forceful encroachment by the Army on people's private lands," he added. Meanwhile, a member of United Kashmir People's National Party Jamil Maqsood also accused Pakistan military of occupying lands illegally, saying, before this the military of Pakistan had already occupied one playground in district Kotli. "They are occupying all the important places, business areas, business places, commercial land," Maqsood added. Locals in illegally-occupied PoK and Gilgit Baltistan often stage protests against Pakistan's ill treatment. The residents blame Pakistan for exploiting their resources and for being responsible for the poverty and underdevelopment in the region. Various leaders and activists also accuse the Pakistani Army and intelligence agencies of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in the region.

Locals accuse Pakistan army of illegal encroachment in PoK

Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) Kotli district have accused security forces of illegal encroachment.

"What is your right to do this? You first captured our estate, and now, you are capturing our plots. We will not leave," the residents can be heard saying in a video clip.

PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) often stage widespread protests against Pakistan's ill-treatment of the region and its people.

The residents blame Pakistan for exploiting resources from PoK and for being responsible for the poverty and underdevelopment in the region.

The locals, including various leaders and activists, have also been accusing the Pakistani Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of enforced disappearance, extra-judicial killings and human rights violation.

India has been bearing the brunt of Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for over three decades.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Locals of Kotli district in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) accuse Pakistan security forces of illegal encroachment, say, "what is your right to do this? You first captured our estate & now you are capturing our plots. We will not leave." <a href="https://t.co/e0lMJM70ym">pic.twitter.com/e0lMJM70ym</a>
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&nbsp

PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) often stage widespread protests against Pakistan's ill-treatment of the region and its people.

Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) Kotli district have accused security forces of illegal encroachment. "What is your right to do this? You first captured our estate, and now, you are capturing our plots. We will not leave," the residents can be heard saying in a video clip. PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) often stage widespread protests against Pakistan's ill-treatment of the region and its people. The residents blame Pakistan for exploiting resources from PoK and for being responsible for the poverty and underdevelopment in the region. The locals, including various leaders and activists, have also been accusing the Pakistani Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of enforced disappearance, extra-judicial killings and human rights violation. India has been bearing the brunt of Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for over three decades. #WATCH Locals of Kotli district in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) accuse Pakistan security forces of illegal encroachment, say, "what is your right to do this? You first captured our estate & now you are capturing our plots. We will not leave." pic.twitter.com/e0lMJM70ym — ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2018 ×

First you captured our Kashmir, now our plots: PoK Kashmiris to Pakistan army

Pakistan on Monday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and issued a demarche over the Indian statement that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Pakistan Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly for the region. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Commenting on India's remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal today said that Singh was summoned on the issue.&nbsp

Faisal, who is also the Director General (South Asia & South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) issued the demarche to Singh.

Singh was summoned "to register Pakistan's categorical rejection of the Indian statement on the Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018 and its baseless, fallacious claim" over Kashmir, according to a statement issued by Faisal's office.&nbsp

It said a written demarche to this effect was also handed over to Singh.

The Foreign Office spokesman in a statement on Sunday claimed that the "Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory".

"Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu & Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India. Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim," the spokesman said.

"These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said, referring to UN Security Council resolutions.

The spokesman said that Pakistan as a responsible member of the international community, had always taken steps consistent with UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

"The latest measure is no exception, as its aim is to further empower the people of Gilgit and Baltistan. We will continue to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions until this dispute is finally resolved through peaceful means,"&nbsphe said.

Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now.&nbsp

China's controversial $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through the disputed region.

It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status.

Pakistan Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly for the region. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province

Pakistan on Monday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and issued a demarche over the Indian statement that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. Pakistan Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly for the region. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province. India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis. The Ministry of External Affairs said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. Commenting on India's remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal today said that Singh was summoned on the issue. Faisal, who is also the Director General (South Asia & South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) issued the demarche to Singh. Singh was summoned "to register Pakistan's categorical rejection of the Indian statement on the Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018 and its baseless, fallacious claim" over Kashmir, according to a statement issued by Faisal's office. It said a written demarche to this effect was also handed over to Singh. The Foreign Office spokesman in a statement on Sunday claimed that the "Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory". "Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu & Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India. Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim," the spokesman said. "These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said, referring to UN Security Council resolutions. The spokesman said that Pakistan as a responsible member of the international community, had always taken steps consistent with UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir dispute. "The latest measure is no exception, as its aim is to further empower the people of Gilgit and Baltistan. We will continue to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions until this dispute is finally resolved through peaceful means,"&nbsphe said. Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now. China's controversial $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through the disputed region. It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status.

Pakistan summons India's Deputy High Commissioner over 'Gilgit-Baltistan' issue

Pakistan's top civil and military leaders have decided to give greater administrative and financial authority to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the region through which the controversial $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes.

During a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) - the top civil and military body - Sartaj Aziz, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, on Saturday briefed the Committee on the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan reform proposals, an official statement said.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reviewed these proposals and after detailed deliberations a consensus was reached on the "devolution of greater administrative authority and financial powers" to the PoK government and the Gilgit-Baltistan government, according to the statement.

The details of administrative and financial reform have not been shared so far.

However, there was also consensus over retention of the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan Councils as advisory bodies and the grant of a five-year tax holiday to Gilgit-Baltistan so as to create adequate incentives for the development of the region and bring it at par with the other areas of Pakistan.

Gilgit-Baltistan is treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan. Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh are four provinces of Pakistan.

India has termed as "entirely unacceptable" any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region, bordering the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as the fifth province. India has protested to China over the CPEC which goes through Gilgit-Baltistan region.

It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status.

Earlier media reports had said that Pakistan plans to elevate the constitutional status of the region to provide legal cover to the CPEC.

The NSC also endorsed that FATA shall be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with the introduction of the administrative and judicial institutional structures and laws of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the statement said.

The Committee directed the concerned ministries to work out the constitutional, legal and administrative modalities for the merger in consultation with all parties in the Parliament.

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Defence & Foreign Affairs Khurram Dastgir Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval and Air forces, ISI chief and other senior civil and military officials

Pakistan's top civil and military leaders have decided to give greater administrative and financial authority to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the region through which the controversial $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes

Pakistan's top civil and military leaders have decided to give greater administrative and financial authority to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the region through which the controversial $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes. During a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) - the top civil and military body - Sartaj Aziz, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, on Saturday briefed the Committee on the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan reform proposals, an official statement said. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reviewed these proposals and after detailed deliberations a consensus was reached on the "devolution of greater administrative authority and financial powers" to the PoK government and the Gilgit-Baltistan government, according to the statement. The details of administrative and financial reform have not been shared so far. However, there was also consensus over retention of the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan Councils as advisory bodies and the grant of a five-year tax holiday to Gilgit-Baltistan so as to create adequate incentives for the development of the region and bring it at par with the other areas of Pakistan. Gilgit-Baltistan is treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan. Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh are four provinces of Pakistan. India has termed as "entirely unacceptable" any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region, bordering the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as the fifth province. India has protested to China over the CPEC which goes through Gilgit-Baltistan region. It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status. Earlier media reports had said that Pakistan plans to elevate the constitutional status of the region to provide legal cover to the CPEC. The NSC also endorsed that FATA shall be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with the introduction of the administrative and judicial institutional structures and laws of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the statement said. The Committee directed the concerned ministries to work out the constitutional, legal and administrative modalities for the merger in consultation with all parties in the Parliament. The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Defence & Foreign Affairs Khurram Dastgir Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval and Air forces, ISI chief and other senior civil and military officials

Pak to give greater administrative and financial authority to PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan

&nbspAn organisation representing the people displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir today staged a protest in Jammu, urging the Centre to take up with Pakistan the issue of their pilgrimage to abandoned shrines across the border.

The SOS International also highlighted the delay in providing relief to the community as promised by the Centre more than two years ago and called for speeding up the process.

Led by the organisation's chairman Rajiv Chuni, a group of displaced persons staged a sit-in near Tawi bridge in support of their demands.

"We were forced out of our birthplace over seven decades ago. Many of our elders left this world with unfilled dream of visiting our religious places in their lifetime," Chuni told PTI.

He said the Centre should immediately take this up with Pakistan so that "we are able to visit our shrines."

Chuni also criticised the state government for its alleged failure to implement the Rs 2,000-crore relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 7, 2015, for the "one-time settlement" of the displaced people.

"After the lapse of more than two and a half years, only one-sixth of PoK displaced persons' families have been covered till date," he said, threatening to intensify the agitation.

Out of the 31,500 families, only 6,000 families have been provided compensation to the tune of Rs 500 crore, he said.&nbsp

The SOS International also highlighted the delay in providing relief to the community as promised by the Centre more than two years ago and called for speeding up the process

&nbspAn organisation representing the people displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir today staged a protest in Jammu, urging the Centre to take up with Pakistan the issue of their pilgrimage to abandoned shrines across the border. The SOS International also highlighted the delay in providing relief to the community as promised by the Centre more than two years ago and called for speeding up the process. Led by the organisation's chairman Rajiv Chuni, a group of displaced persons staged a sit-in near Tawi bridge in support of their demands. "We were forced out of our birthplace over seven decades ago. Many of our elders left this world with unfilled dream of visiting our religious places in their lifetime," Chuni told PTI. He said the Centre should immediately take this up with Pakistan so that "we are able to visit our shrines." Chuni also criticised the state government for its alleged failure to implement the Rs 2,000-crore relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 7, 2015, for the "one-time settlement" of the displaced people. "After the lapse of more than two and a half years, only one-sixth of PoK displaced persons' families have been covered till date," he said, threatening to intensify the agitation. Out of the 31,500 families, only 6,000 families have been provided compensation to the tune of Rs 500 crore, he said.

Displaced PoK people seek Centre's intervention to visit shrines across the border

Exiled PoK activist Nasir Aziz Khan has said that the unemployed in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/jklf-activist-naeem-butt-killed-during-a-protest-march-in-pok-9583">Pakistan Occupied Kashmir</a> are soft targets for terrorists.

Adding that terror groups were flourishing in PoK, he also said&nbsp;Pakistan is not ready to listen to the voices of Kashmiris of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pok-residents-protest-against-pak-brutalities-127418">(PoK) frequently protest against the Pakistan </a>government and the army's atrocities.&nbsp;

The people also protest against the regular cross-border firing.&nbsp;

Another PoK activist Mir Afzal Suleria&nbsp;had said earlier that the locals in the area are being used as human shields. He said that the army uses their houses to fire gunshots and mortar shells across the border. Consequently, the counter firing from the other side is targetted on these houses, resulting in heavy casualty.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pok-residents-demand-azadi-raise-slogans-against-pakistan-army-36313">PoK residents demand '</a> <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pok-residents-demand-azadi-raise-slogans-against-pakistan-army-36313">azadi</a> <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pok-residents-demand-azadi-raise-slogans-against-pakistan-army-36313">', raise slogans against Pakistan Army</a>

The protesters in PoK had earlier blamed the government and prime minister of the state Raja Farooq Haider for ceasefire violations and for deliberately provoking India for cross firing.

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Pakistan is not ready to listen to voices of Kashmiris of PoK, so unfortunately the unemployed youth become soft targets for terrorists. Terror groups are flourishing in PoK: Nasir Aziz Khan,Exiled PoK Activist <a href="https://t.co/TG1RRq2ITo">pic.twitter.com/TG1RRq2ITo</a>
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Adding that terror groups were flourishing in PoK, he also said Pakistan is not ready to listen to the voices of Kashmiris of Pakistan occupied Kashmir

Exiled PoK activist Nasir Aziz Khan has said that the unemployed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir are soft targets for terrorists. Adding that terror groups were flourishing in PoK, he also said Pakistan is not ready to listen to the voices of Kashmiris of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) frequently protest against the Pakistan government and the army's atrocities. The people also protest against the regular cross-border firing. Another PoK activist Mir Afzal Suleria had said earlier that the locals in the area are being used as human shields. He said that the army uses their houses to fire gunshots and mortar shells across the border. Consequently, the counter firing from the other side is targetted on these houses, resulting in heavy casualty. Also read: PoK residents demand ' azadi ', raise slogans against Pakistan Army The protesters in PoK had earlier blamed the government and prime minister of the state Raja Farooq Haider for ceasefire violations and for deliberately provoking India for cross firing. Pakistan is not ready to listen to voices of Kashmiris of PoK, so unfortunately the unemployed youth become soft targets for terrorists. Terror groups are flourishing in PoK: Nasir Aziz Khan,Exiled PoK Activist pic.twitter.com/TG1RRq2ITo — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2018 ×

Unemployed in PoK are easy target for terrorists: Exiled PoK activist Nasir Aziz Khan

After PM Modi said the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-armys-surgical-strike-across-the-line-of-control-10-key-points-6938"> surgical strikes against Pakistan</a> in September 2016 were a 100 per cent success, the Pakistan foreign office said today that "by continuously repeating a lie, it doesn't turn into the truth."

Speaking at Westminster Central Hall on Wednesday evening PM Modi had said that India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people.

"I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," Modi had said.

Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said India's claims about&nbsp;"surgical strikes were false and baseless".

"Repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.

"These statements are nothing but a figment of imagination," the foreign office spokesman added.

Faisal,&nbsp;in fact, hit back at India saying that it was quite the other way around, &nbsp;accusing India of backing terrorists in Pakistan.&nbsp;

"Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism," he said.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism last year however India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the verdict.&nbsp;

In response, the ICJ halted his execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict.

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3JyOsICc1YY" width="560"></iframe>

PM Modi had said that India waited to inform Pakistan about the surgical strikes before disclosing it to the media and the people.

After PM Modi said the surgical strikes against Pakistan in September 2016 were a 100 per cent success, the Pakistan foreign office said today that "by continuously repeating a lie, it doesn't turn into the truth." Speaking at Westminster Central Hall on Wednesday evening PM Modi had said that India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people. "I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," Modi had said. Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said India's claims about "surgical strikes were false and baseless". "Repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Pakistan's Dawn newspaper. "These statements are nothing but a figment of imagination," the foreign office spokesman added. Faisal, in fact, hit back at India saying that it was quite the other way around, accusing India of backing terrorists in Pakistan. "Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism," he said. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism last year however India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the verdict. In response, the ICJ halted his execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict.

'Repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth,' says Pak on PM Modi's surgical strike statement

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has inaugurated the first unit of a key hydropower mega-project built with the financial and technical support of China in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The 969 MW Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project near Muzaffarabad was announced more than 12 years ago but work on it lingered on until ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif vowed in 2013 to build it before the end of the five-year tenure of his government.

Though Sharif stepped down last year after disqualification by the Supreme Court his nominee and successor, Abbasi, yesterday lauded his vision and efforts for the project.

"Only 10 per cent work was done when the former prime minister (Sharif) decided to complete it. If we have succeeded it is due to his vision and efforts," Abbasi said.

As the project was delayed, the cost climbed to USD 5 billion, a three-fold increase in the initial estimates, Abbasi said, adding the project would be fully operational before the end of this year.

Abbasi thanked China for support and also paid tribute to 21 workers who died while working on the project.

Abbasi further said that government added about 10,400 MW power into the system in five years and addressed the chronic power shortage.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider addressing on the occasion demanded that 250 MW of electricity from the project should be dedicated to PoK to end energy crisis.

Earlier, chief of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Muzammil Hussain, said the NJHPP was conceived some three decades ago but the work was started only after it became evident that India was planning to build Kishanganga project.&nbsp;

The 969 MW Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project near Muzaffarabad was announced more than 12 years ago

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has inaugurated the first unit of a key hydropower mega-project built with the financial and technical support of China in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The 969 MW Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project near Muzaffarabad was announced more than 12 years ago but work on it lingered on until ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif vowed in 2013 to build it before the end of the five-year tenure of his government. Though Sharif stepped down last year after disqualification by the Supreme Court his nominee and successor, Abbasi, yesterday lauded his vision and efforts for the project. "Only 10 per cent work was done when the former prime minister (Sharif) decided to complete it. If we have succeeded it is due to his vision and efforts," Abbasi said. As the project was delayed, the cost climbed to USD 5 billion, a three-fold increase in the initial estimates, Abbasi said, adding the project would be fully operational before the end of this year. Abbasi thanked China for support and also paid tribute to 21 workers who died while working on the project. Abbasi further said that government added about 10,400 MW power into the system in five years and addressed the chronic power shortage. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider addressing on the occasion demanded that 250 MW of electricity from the project should be dedicated to PoK to end energy crisis. Earlier, chief of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Muzammil Hussain, said the NJHPP was conceived some three decades ago but the work was started only after it became evident that India was planning to build Kishanganga project.

Pakistan inaugurates strategic hydropower project in PoK

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/trump-freezes-over-200-million-allocated-for-syrias-recovery-fund-127408">Trump freezes over $200 million allocated for Syria's 'recovery fund'</a>

The White House has instructed the State Department to freeze over $200 million in funds earmarked for "recovery efforts" in Syria, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/russia-to-expel-4-french-diplomats-over-spy-row-127407">Russia to expel 4 French diplomats over spy row</a>

Russia will expel four French diplomats in the aftermath of poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal at his home in Britain's Salisbury.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/sports/tearful-warner-sorry-for-ball-tampering-weighing-up-appeal-127414">Tearful Warner sorry for ball-tampering, weighing up </a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/sports/tearful-warner-sorry-for-ball-tampering-weighing-up-appeal-127414">appeal</a>

Former Australia vice-captain David Warner apologised in tears Saturday for his role in a ball-tampering scandal and said he would weigh up an appeal against his 12-month ban.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/andhra-pradesh-4-killed-30-injured-due-to-rain-hailstorm-127411">Andhra Pradesh: 4 killed, 30 injured due to rain, hailstorm</a>

As many as four people were killed and nearly 30 injured after a sudden downpour and hailstorm hit Vontimitta village&nbsp;in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/south-asia/pok-residents-protest-against-pak-brutalities-127418">PoK residents protest against Pak brutalities</a>

Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) continue to protest against the Pakistan Army and the government, forcing the latter to stop cross-border firing.

Trump freezes over $200 million allocated for Syria's 'recovery fund' The White House has instructed the State Department to freeze over $200 million in funds earmarked for "recovery efforts" in Syria, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Russia to expel 4 French diplomats over spy row Russia will expel four French diplomats in the aftermath of poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal at his home in Britain's Salisbury. Tearful Warner sorry for ball-tampering, weighing up appeal Former Australia vice-captain David Warner apologised in tears Saturday for his role in a ball-tampering scandal and said he would weigh up an appeal against his 12-month ban. Andhra Pradesh: 4 killed, 30 injured due to rain, hailstorm As many as four people were killed and nearly 30 injured after a sudden downpour and hailstorm hit Vontimitta village in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. PoK residents protest against Pak brutalities Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) continue to protest against the Pakistan Army and the government, forcing the latter to stop cross-border firing.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan would be the &#39;industrial hub&#39; of the entire South Asian region soon, after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is built.

In an interview with a private television channel, Iqbal said that the CPEC project would help to improve drastically in social infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, energy and other key sectors, adding that it would help to create millions of job opportunities for the Pakistani youth&nbsp;

The minister said in 2013 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in to power, the country was facing many challenges, including terrorism, energy shortfall, and deteriorating law and order situation. The government with its effective policies, reduced terrorist acts, overcame energy shortage and improved the law and order situation.

&quot;Some 11,500-megawatt electricity was added to the national grid during the last four years. About USD 35 billion has been spent in the energy sector only and there was not even a single penny of loan included in it, rather it was investment under the CPEC,&quot; Iqbal asserted.

The Pakistani leader further said that the USD 62 billion economic corridor was launched after &#39;comprehensive consultation and consensus&#39; from all political parties which is a combination of uilding roads, rails, power plants and economic free zones in Pakistan. He also termed the CPEC project as a &#39;gamechanger&#39; for the country&#39;s economy as well.

He said that Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan would become the &#39;gateways&#39; for the economic corridor and trade zones would be set up at all provinces in Pakistan.

He added that Chinese and Pakistani companies would make large-scale investment in the trade zones, which would not only create new jobs for the citizens but also help to transfer &#39;new technology to Pakistan&#39;.

Last week, Iqbal had said that complete development og Gwadar will make Pakistan a hub of regional trade. He further announced that &nbsp;a genuine programme was initiated to mine coal from Thar, and first coal-based power project in the area which will become operational by the end of this year. He said Thar coal is enough to generate five thousand megawatts of electricity for four hundred years.

Further, he talked about the level of improvement in Balochistan and measures the Government had tajen to address the conditions in the state.&nbsp;

India is against the CPEC project since it passes through the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI) 
&nbsp;

Iqbal said that the CPEC project would help to improve drastically in social infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, energy and other key sectors

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan would be the 'industrial hub' of the entire South Asian region soon, after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is built. In an interview with a private television channel, Iqbal said that the CPEC project would help to improve drastically in social infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, energy and other key sectors, adding that it would help to create millions of job opportunities for the Pakistani youth The minister said in 2013 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in to power, the country was facing many challenges, including terrorism, energy shortfall, and deteriorating law and order situation. The government with its effective policies, reduced terrorist acts, overcame energy shortage and improved the law and order situation. "Some 11,500-megawatt electricity was added to the national grid during the last four years. About USD 35 billion has been spent in the energy sector only and there was not even a single penny of loan included in it, rather it was investment under the CPEC," Iqbal asserted. The Pakistani leader further said that the USD 62 billion economic corridor was launched after 'comprehensive consultation and consensus' from all political parties which is a combination of uilding roads, rails, power plants and economic free zones in Pakistan. He also termed the CPEC project as a 'gamechanger' for the country's economy as well. He said that Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan would become the 'gateways' for the economic corridor and trade zones would be set up at all provinces in Pakistan. He added that Chinese and Pakistani companies would make large-scale investment in the trade zones, which would not only create new jobs for the citizens but also help to transfer 'new technology to Pakistan'. Last week, Iqbal had said that complete development og Gwadar will make Pakistan a hub of regional trade. He further announced that a genuine programme was initiated to mine coal from Thar, and first coal-based power project in the area which will become operational by the end of this year. He said Thar coal is enough to generate five thousand megawatts of electricity for four hundred years. Further, he talked about the level of improvement in Balochistan and measures the Government had tajen to address the conditions in the state. India is against the CPEC project since it passes through the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region. (With inputs from ANI)

Pakistan to be 'industrial hub' of South Asia after CPEC project: Pak Interior Minister

Massive protests continued in cities across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Sunday over a demand to abolish the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

&quot;People of Kashmir feel Pakistan has been ruling over us through the Kashmir council. It needs to be abolished,&quot; United Kashmir People&#39;s National Party leader Ishtiyaq Ahmad said on Sunday.The protesters have been demanding constitutional amendments in interim act - 1974 of PoK to ensure full empowerment of the elected government of PoK through transfer of all powers of the Kashmir council to the government.

The protests have intensified after the Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan said the PoK was not going to become a province of Pakistan. Rather, his government wants the Kashmir Council to be abolished.

The PoK has its own elected President, Prime Minister, Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Court, but important matters, including the budget and tax affairs, are dealt by the Kashmir Council.

&quot;We demand that besides holding agitation, the need is to practically implement the demand of abolishing the Kashmir Council. All rights to be directly given to the government of Azad Kashmir, so that people gets empowered, Azad Kashmir government gets empowered. The Kashmir Council needs to be abolished urgently,&quot;

PoK&#39;s Supreme Court advocate Adnan had recently said. Pakistan has misruled the region for more than seven decades. There is a Prime Minister and President in PoK, but they are merely stooges who have been helping Islamabad fill its treasuries through economic depredations.

The people of the region have been denied basic fundamental rights and are meted out with severe brutality if they demand the same.

The PoK has its own elected President, Prime Minister, Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Court

Massive protests continued in cities across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Sunday over a demand to abolish the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. "People of Kashmir feel Pakistan has been ruling over us through the Kashmir council. It needs to be abolished," United Kashmir People's National Party leader Ishtiyaq Ahmad said on Sunday.The protesters have been demanding constitutional amendments in interim act - 1974 of PoK to ensure full empowerment of the elected government of PoK through transfer of all powers of the Kashmir council to the government. The protests have intensified after the Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan said the PoK was not going to become a province of Pakistan. Rather, his government wants the Kashmir Council to be abolished. The PoK has its own elected President, Prime Minister, Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Court, but important matters, including the budget and tax affairs, are dealt by the Kashmir Council. "We demand that besides holding agitation, the need is to practically implement the demand of abolishing the Kashmir Council. All rights to be directly given to the government of Azad Kashmir, so that people gets empowered, Azad Kashmir government gets empowered. The Kashmir Council needs to be abolished urgently," PoK's Supreme Court advocate Adnan had recently said. Pakistan has misruled the region for more than seven decades. There is a Prime Minister and President in PoK, but they are merely stooges who have been helping Islamabad fill its treasuries through economic depredations. The people of the region have been denied basic fundamental rights and are meted out with severe brutality if they demand the same.

Massive anti-Pak protests continue in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir

India&#39;s defence ministry has informed the country <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-troops-fire-at-loc-posts-in-poonch-army-captain-injured-29759">will be buying 160,000 guns </a>worth $553 million for troops at the border.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman while charing the Defence acquisition council cleared the purchase of 72,400 assault rifles and &nbsp;93,895 carbines worth $553 million.

The forces will now conduct trials and shortlist guns to be brought, bids were placed back in 2014 but the Indian Army could not find buyers with the required specifications.

India&#39;s defence requirement across all major forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - have been left on the backburner several decades, only recently several defence deals have begun to be cleared by the Defense ministry.

India was ranked in the fifth position in 2016 among world&#39;s largest military spenders as the country&#39;s expenditure grew by 8.5% to $55.9 billion.

Last year India had signed missile deals worth multi-billion dollars with Israel and had placed orders to procure artillery guns from South Korea.

In December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commissioned Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari into the Indian Navy after extensive tests.

The defence ministry has also expedited the acquisition of warplanes for the Indian Air Force.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman while charing the Defence acquisition council cleared the purchase of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines worth $553 million.

India's defence ministry has informed the country will be buying 160,000 guns worth $553 million for troops at the border. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman while charing the Defence acquisition council cleared the purchase of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines worth $553 million. The forces will now conduct trials and shortlist guns to be brought, bids were placed back in 2014 but the Indian Army could not find buyers with the required specifications. India's defence requirement across all major forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - have been left on the backburner several decades, only recently several defence deals have begun to be cleared by the Defense ministry. India was ranked in the fifth position in 2016 among world's largest military spenders as the country's expenditure grew by 8.5% to $55.9 billion. Last year India had signed missile deals worth multi-billion dollars with Israel and had placed orders to procure artillery guns from South Korea. In December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commissioned Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari into the Indian Navy after extensive tests. The defence ministry has also expedited the acquisition of warplanes for the Indian Air Force.

India to buy 160,000 guns including assault rifles for border troops

Chinese efforts to make best of the French President Macron&rsquo;s visit to claim the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), recently enshrined in the Constitution, have not been bought by the West. Macron has been balanced in choosing his words to say &ldquo;I want us to define together the rules of a balanced relationship in which everyone will win.&rdquo; Referring specifically to China&rsquo;s BRI to revive Silk Road trade routes, he said &ldquo;the ancient Silk Roads were never only Chinese&rdquo; and also &ldquo;the new roads cannot only go one way&rdquo;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Macron&#39;s words, therefore, underlines the fact that the BRI cannot be only China-centric with the bulk of contracts going to Chinese companies to revive their sliding economy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Many countries in the European Union see the $1 trillion BRI as an example of Chinese expansionism and the proposed deals lacking transparency and level playing field, highly skewed in favor of China.

&nbsp;

From the conception of the One Belt One Road (OBOR), later published in BRI document, it was quite clear that the BRI project has been conceived by China, to improve its connectivity with four continents to increase its infrastructure investments, utilise it&#39;s capacities and trade surpluses, besides increasing its strategic footprints globally. It is a &#39;China First&#39; programme without calling it so. China planned to organised OBOR Summit last year, expecting attendance of all global leaders, but when it was clear that the world will not sign on the dotted line of China, and most top leaders will not attend, it was renamed as Belt and Road Forum (BRF).

&nbsp;

BRI is also a tool for creating connectivity for Chinese global deployability to be able to take on a global leadership role. China wants the world to believe that it is a benign project for inclusive growth of partners, but the idea has been bought by only those countries which need Chinese capital or other support. Some others who cannot oppose China for various reasons have also followed it because of lack of choices.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The countries which joined the Chinese bandwagon were helpless, in dire need of capital to develop infrastructure in their country.&nbsp; Most of them now realise that it was exploitative. The problem still remains that who will provide the capital for such a fancy one-sided project conceived for China&#39;s economic survival and to fulfill its global leadership ambition? The European countries realise that with major contracts planned for Chinese companies, it is not a win-win project but only a China- win project.

&nbsp;

India boycotted BRF because China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), (part of BRI) passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), which as sovereign territory of India violates Indian sovereignty. No other country is confronted with an issue as serious as &ldquo;sovereignty issue&rdquo; in context of BRI as India, hence, India stance is well-justified.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Moreover, it is wishful thinking that militants harboured in Pakistan will ever allow our trade to pass through to CAR/Afghanistan. In case of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM), India has already established connectivity through Bangladesh from Kolkata to Agartala. The roads in the northeastern states are being developed by India, and connectivity to Myanmar is being developed bilaterally, hence, China-driven BCIM has very little to charm India.

&nbsp;

I feel that Chinese advertisement of Macron&#39;s support to BRI is part of popularising it. On Macron&#39;s part, it is part of diplomatic niceties, the depth of which will be known only when contracts pertaining to BRI are inked.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Chinese advertisement of Macron's support to BRI is part of popularising it. On Macron's part, it is part of diplomatic niceties.

Chinese efforts to make best of the French President Macron’s visit to claim the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), recently enshrined in the Constitution, have not been bought by the West. Macron has been balanced in choosing his words to say “I want us to define together the rules of a balanced relationship in which everyone will win.” Referring specifically to China’s BRI to revive Silk Road trade routes, he said “the ancient Silk Roads were never only Chinese” and also “the new roads cannot only go one way”. Macron's words, therefore, underlines the fact that the BRI cannot be only China-centric with the bulk of contracts going to Chinese companies to revive their sliding economy. Many countries in the European Union see the $1 trillion BRI as an example of Chinese expansionism and the proposed deals lacking transparency and level playing field, highly skewed in favor of China. From the conception of the One Belt One Road (OBOR), later published in BRI document, it was quite clear that the BRI project has been conceived by China, to improve its connectivity with four continents to increase its infrastructure investments, utilise it's capacities and trade surpluses, besides increasing its strategic footprints globally. It is a 'China First' programme without calling it so. China planned to organised OBOR Summit last year, expecting attendance of all global leaders, but when it was clear that the world will not sign on the dotted line of China, and most top leaders will not attend, it was renamed as Belt and Road Forum (BRF). BRI is also a tool for creating connectivity for Chinese global deployability to be able to take on a global leadership role. China wants the world to believe that it is a benign project for inclusive growth of partners, but the idea has been bought by only those countries which need Chinese capital or other support. Some others who cannot oppose China for various reasons have also followed it because of lack of choices. The countries which joined the Chinese bandwagon were helpless, in dire need of capital to develop infrastructure in their country. Most of them now realise that it was exploitative. The problem still remains that who will provide the capital for such a fancy one-sided project conceived for China's economic survival and to fulfill its global leadership ambition? The European countries realise that with major contracts planned for Chinese companies, it is not a win-win project but only a China- win project. India boycotted BRF because China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), (part of BRI) passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), which as sovereign territory of India violates Indian sovereignty. No other country is confronted with an issue as serious as “sovereignty issue” in context of BRI as India, hence, India stance is well-justified. Moreover, it is wishful thinking that militants harboured in Pakistan will ever allow our trade to pass through to CAR/Afghanistan. In case of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM), India has already established connectivity through Bangladesh from Kolkata to Agartala. The roads in the northeastern states are being developed by India, and connectivity to Myanmar is being developed bilaterally, hence, China-driven BCIM has very little to charm India. I feel that Chinese advertisement of Macron's support to BRI is part of popularising it. On Macron's part, it is part of diplomatic niceties, the depth of which will be known only when contracts pertaining to BRI are inked. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Should India take French President's visit to China as endorsement of BRI?

Displaced people from restive Pakistan-cccupied&nbsp;Kashmir (PoK) met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence on Sunday.

Their meeting was initiated for liberating the Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan.&nbsp;

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Displaced people from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence in Delhi, urged for liberation of POJK from Pakistan <a href="https://t.co/MyDA3OuKxN">pic.twitter.com/MyDA3OuKxN</a>
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The people of PoK have time and again held protests against the Pakistan government.&nbsp;

On October 22, people from the PoK held anti-Pakistan protests across the region to mark 70 years of Pakistan occupation of the region which they called &quot;Black Day&quot;.

The people&nbsp;frequently protest against the enforced taxation and&nbsp;exploitation&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;government.&nbsp;

The locals had also held protests&nbsp;against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) citing that the inhabitants along&nbsp;the route have not been consulted in the construction of the corridor. Neither have they received any compensation for the exploitation of their land.&nbsp;

Recently,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/members-of-baloch-and-sindhi-community-protest-against-pakistan-in-london-26418" target="_blank">similar protests were staged in London by members of Baloch and Sindhi community</a>.

Pakistan has been witnessing<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/opinion-why-pakistan-supports-kashmirs-aazadi-and-not-that-of-pok-26042" target="_top">&nbsp;several protests from&nbsp;minorities</a>&nbsp;who revolt against the suppression of the Pakistan government.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The people of PoK have time and again held protests against the Pakistan government

Displaced people from restive Pakistan-cccupied Kashmir (PoK) met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence on Sunday. Their meeting was initiated for liberating the Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. Displaced people from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence in Delhi, urged for liberation of POJK from Pakistan pic.twitter.com/MyDA3OuKxN — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × The people of PoK have time and again held protests against the Pakistan government. On October 22, people from the PoK held anti-Pakistan protests across the region to mark 70 years of Pakistan occupation of the region which they called "Black Day". The people frequently protest against the enforced taxation and exploitation by the Pakistan government. The locals had also held protests against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) citing that the inhabitants along the route have not been consulted in the construction of the corridor. Neither have they received any compensation for the exploitation of their land. Recently, similar protests were staged in London by members of Baloch and Sindhi community. Pakistan has been witnessing several protests from minorities who revolt against the suppression of the Pakistan government.

Displaced people from PoK meet Rajnath Singh, request for PoK liberation

India has issued demarches to both <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protest-in-pok-against-pakistan-government-for-diverting-resources-26599">Pakistan and China conveying its position</a> on the construction of dams on the Indus river in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by the Pakistani government with assistance committed to these projects by China, the government said today.&nbsp;

Replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that any collaborative activity there is in violation of India&#39;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.&nbsp;

&quot;Accordingly, we have made demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying the position. The government continues to maintain this position,&quot; Singh said.&nbsp;

Replying to a separate question on China&#39;s &#39;One Belt One Road&#39; (OBOR) initiative, Singh said the government has clearly articulated its firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be &quot;based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law...and must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity&quot;.&nbsp;

He also asserted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), which is being projected as a flagship project of OBOR initiative, passes through parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which has been in illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947.&nbsp;

&quot;The government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concerns about China&#39;s activities in PoK and asked them to cease these activities,&quot; the minister added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Minister of state for external affairs V K Singh said India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan

India has issued demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying its position on the construction of dams on the Indus river in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by the Pakistani government with assistance committed to these projects by China, the government said today. Replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that any collaborative activity there is in violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Accordingly, we have made demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying the position. The government continues to maintain this position," Singh said. Replying to a separate question on China's 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) initiative, Singh said the government has clearly articulated its firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be "based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law...and must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity". He also asserted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), which is being projected as a flagship project of OBOR initiative, passes through parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which has been in illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947. "The government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concerns about China's activities in PoK and asked them to cease these activities," the minister added.

India issued demarches to Pakistan, China on dams in PoK: MoS VK Singh

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