Pakistan PM accuses India of launching 'brutal crackdown' in Kashmir

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has accused India of launching a “brutal crackdown” in Kashmir after terror groups suffered a major setback following the killing of 13 terrorists in counter-insurgency operations.

Abbasi’s statement late on Sunday night came after Indian security forces on Sunday gunned down 13 militants in three counter-insurgency operations that also claimed the lives of three army jawans and four civilians in Anantnag and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killing, is deplorable,” Abbasi said. He also asked the international community to urge India to allow access to fact-finding missions of the UN to Kashmir.

Sunday’s operations by the Indian security forces have rendered a severe blow to terror groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.