Pakistan slams US blacklisting of Kashmiri fighters
Pakistan on Thursday criticized the United States for blacklisting the Kashmiri separatist group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen as a terrorist organization, calling the move "unjustified."
The State Department designation bans US citizens and residents from dealing with the group and any assets found to belong to it in areas under US jurisdiction will be frozen.
"We are disappointed with the US decision in view of the fact that Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute with UN Security Council resolutions pending implementation for the last 70 years," Nafees Zakariya, Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters in the capital Islamabad.
The move was "completely unjustified," he said.
After Washington announced the decision on Wednesday, several hundred activists gathered in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and chanted anti-US slogans.
Washington had already designated the group's leader, Syed Salahuddin, a "global terrorist," but he still operates in Pakistani Kashmir, where his group has strong support.
The designation comes the week both India and Pakistan mark 70 years of independence from the British Empire -- and the start of bitter rivalry and decades of conflict over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
Since 1989, rebel groups have fought in Indian-held Kashmir, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan, and tens of thousands -- mostly civilians -- have been killed.
India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming militants, while Islamabad denies the allegation, saying it only provides diplomatic support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination.
(Source: AFP)
Pakistan dismisses US official’s allegations about missile program
Iran’s Pezeshkian, Egypt’s Sisi hope for restoration of bilateral ties
Over dozen killed in clashes amid violence targeting Pakistan's Shias
Iran condemns Israel’s brazen admission of Haniyeh murder
VIDEO | Conference in Islamabad explores Pakistan-Iran ties
Hamas condemns Israeli evacuation order of Indonesian Hospital
VIDEO | Yemen resistance remains resolute
'Easy target': Yemen warns 4th US carrier within reach
Iran military awarded $40 mln worth of vessel building contracts
‘These kids need to be killed’: Shocking details of Israeli brutalities in Gaza
Yemen faces ‘highest burden’ of cholera globally: WHO
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
