Pakistan condemns award given to Indian major who allegedly used Kashmiri as human shield

Record ID: 875894

  • Title: Pakistan condemns award given to Indian major who allegedly used Kashmiri as human shield
  • Date: 25th May 2017
  • Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (MAY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN NAFEES ZAKARIA ADDRESSING WEEKLY BRIEFING REPORTERS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN, NAFEES ZAKARIA, SAYING: "Awarding Major Leetul Gogoi, who brazenly used a Kashmiri youth as a human shield, is condemnable. It is a crime and an insult to humanity. Amnesty International called the awarding 'a move to condone human rights abuses' in IOK (Indian Occupied Kashmir). This is not first time that the Indian occupation forces have displayed such cowardice and inhumanity. In Indian-occupied Kashmir, the Indian occupation forces are involved in acts of grave violence against civilians; they are committing, rapes, extra-judicial murders, arson attacks, kidnappings, violence against Kashmiri children and desecration of mosques and other sacred places. International community, particularly the U.N. should take cognizance to act." REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN, NAFEES ZAKARIA, SAYING: "Indian occupation forces in IOK have been targeting Kashmiri civilians across LOC in AJK (Azad Jammu Kashmir). Many hundreds have been killed. Since 2014, unprovoked ceasefire violations have increased significantly, taking toll on hundreds of innocent Kashmiris' lives in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and their properties. Yesterday, even when the United Nations' Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan, when their team was on a visit to LOC, the Indian occupation forces committed ceasefire violation from IOK." CAMERAMAN FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2017 12:15
  • Keywords: Commendation Card human shield Kashmir India Pakistan
  • Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
  • City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016IC71OL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Pakistan on Thursday (May 25) condemned the awarding of a prestigious army badge to an Indian major who allegedly tied up a local man to the front of an army jeep and used him as a human shield to give safe passage to a convoy of election staff, paramilitary forces and police in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
    Indian Major Leetul Gogoi was conferred the 'Commendation Card' by the Indian army on Tuesday (May 23) for 'sustained distinguished service' in the state in countering insurgency. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Nafees Zakaria called the move "a crime and an insult to humanity".
    A video showing the man tied to the vehicle on April 9 in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency triggered public outcry and drew thousands of Kashmiris onto the street in protest.
    Disputed by two nuclear-armed neighbours, the Himalayan region is regarded as one of the world's most dangerous potential flashpoints.
    India has heavily militarised its side in order to stop cross-border infiltration that has fuelled a long-running separatist insurgency and to counter Pakistani forces on the other side. India accuses Pakistan of aiding militant groups, a charge Islamabad denies, but anger against Indian rule is widespread in the Muslim-majority region.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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