India has strongly dismissed allegations by Pakistan linking New Delhi to recent unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), accusing Islamabad of attempting to divert attention from its own governance failures and human rights record in the region.
Responding to remarks made by Pakistan’s defence minister, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects what he described as “fabricated claims” and argued that the protests in PoK stem from longstanding local grievances against Pakistan’s administration.
“Such remarks are desperate attempts by Pakistan to cover up its own failures and deflect attention from its human rights abuses. We categorically reject these fabricated claims with the contempt they deserve,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing on Tuesday.
The MEA spokesperson stated that the ongoing demonstrations in PoK are a result of what he called decades of economic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression by Pakistani authorities in the territory.
According to Jaiswal, residents of the region have increasingly voiced concerns over governance, economic conditions and access to basic services, leading to recurring protests in recent years.
India also accused Pakistani authorities of responding harshly to demonstrations. Jaiswal alleged that security forces have used excessive force against protesters and imposed restrictions that have affected daily life in the region.
“The Pakistani state has responded with extreme police brutality, the blocking of essential supplies and medicines, internet blackouts, and the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians,” he said, adding that several people had reportedly lost their lives during recent unrest.
New Delhi further called on the international community to take note of developments in the region and hold Pakistan accountable for alleged human rights violations.
The comments came after Pakistan’s defence minister reportedly accused India of being behind recent violence and instability in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where protests over inflation, resource allocation and governance issues have periodically erupted.
The exchange marks the latest round of diplomatic sparring between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, with both countries continuing to trade accusations over developments in the disputed region.
India maintains that the unrest reflects dissatisfaction among local residents with Pakistan’s administration, while Islamabad has continued to reject those claims and accuse New Delhi of interference.
The latest war of words underscores the ongoing tensions between the two neighbours, even as broader regional diplomatic efforts continue elsewhere in South Asia and the Middle East.
