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)
Iran's president offers condolences to Pakistan over terrorist attack
Scores killed as Takfiri terrorists target Shia Muslims in Pakistan
Iran condemns terrorist attack at railway station in Pakistan's Quetta
Diplomat discourages recourse to pressure, intimidation, confrontation against Iran
UN: 2024 deadliest year for aid workers amid genocide in Gaza
Gaza health official warns of hospital shutdowns within 48 hours
Israel kills 5 more paramedics in southern Lebanon: Health ministry
Iran to launch ‘new, advanced’ centrifuges in response to IAEA resolution: AEOI
Yemen fires hypersonic missile at Israeli airbase
VIDEO | New Delhi chokes under toxic smog as air quality remains at hazardous levels
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
