Reaction to Indian atrocities to keep surfacing in IoK: Aizaz

NEW YORK: Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry Monday said that the reaction to Indian atrocities will keep surfacing in the occupied Kashmir, while country's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhi said that Pakistan would not take any pressure into account over the Kashmir issue.

Briefing newsmen here after PM Nawaz Sharif's meetings with world leaders and calls for intervention to stop human rights abuses in IoK, Chaudhry said India cannot contain the momentum in occupied Kashmir and that incendiary statements by the Indian leadership were threatening regional peace.

Speaking with regard to Nawaz-Kerry meeting, the foreign secretary said the prime minister had apprised Kerry of worst human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. He said the meeting also discussed other affairs including situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's energy needs.

Secretary Kerry recognised Pakistan's efforts in rooting out terrorism from the region, he added.

"Pakistan has always wished and strived for the establishment of peace, yet its leadership and the masses know well how to defend their country," said Chaudhry, adding that India instead of leveling allegations against Pakistan should focus on resolving the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhi said that Pakistan would not take any pressure into account over the Kashmir issue. "We will take up the issue of Indian atrocities in IoK at every forum," she asserted.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held separate meetings with British PM Theresa May and US Secretary of State John Kerry and urged them to play their role in convincing India to stop brutal use of force in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

"If the international community does not succeed in asking India to immediately end state oppression on the innocent people in Jammu & Kashmir, then this would encourage India to increase the intensity of the continuing state atrocities," he remarked.

"We will not disappoint our Kashmiri brethren at any cost and we will keep on reminding the international community of its decades-old commitments that have not been honored till today," the PM maintained.