India lashes out at Pakistan over Kashmir, says 'stop inciting terrorism, vacate PoK'

New Delhi: The Indian government on Thursday strongly condemned Pakistan's encouragement and support to terrorists and their activities against its neighbouring country as the latter marked a 'Black Day' over the Kashmir unrest yesterday. 

On Wednesday, thousands of Pakistanis observed a 'Black Day' over the Kashmir unrest by taking out protest rallies in various cities, while the government officials wore black armbands at workplaces.

Rallies were held in various cities to draw the attention of the international community on the Kashmir issue, the Express Tribune reported.

"We saw reports about rallies, events and statements related to Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir over the last two days and noted that events were led by UN-designated terrorists, who had in past protested elimination of dreaded terrorists including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan," MEA said. 

"We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence, terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner," the ministry said.

Adding further it said, "In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan."

Blaming Pakistan directly for fanning protests in the Kashmir Valley, the MEA asserted further, "Pakistan must also stop misleading the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises such as the so-called elections today in POK which Pakistan ironically calls Azad."

Demanding Pakistan to vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the MEA said, "The observance of 'Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day' exposes Pak's longing for the territory of Jammu and Kashmir."

"India demands that Pakistan must fulfil the obligation to vacate its illegal occupation of POK and refrain from deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner," it concluded by saying.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that Pakistan is trying to destabilise India by sponsoring terrorism.

"Pakistan is trying to destabilise India. If terrorism is there in India, it is due to Pakistan which is sponsoring it," Singh said in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Stressing that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir would soon become normal, the Home Minister said, "Our neighbour is conspiring to disturb the situation in the Kashmir Valley in the name of the religion".

"They broke off from India in the name of religion, but today they are broken in two parts because of terrorism. Every day they are fighting against it," Rajnath said while hitting out at Pakistan.