Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed “deep shock” over civilian deaths in clashes with Indian security forces in the disputed region of Kashmir on the weekend.
At least 19 people have been killed in the Indian part of Kashmir in violent protests following the death of a militant leader on Friday.
“It is deplorable that excessive and unlawful force was used against the civilians who were protesting against the killing of Burhan Wani,” Sharif said, referring to a militant leader who was killed last week.
He also expressed “serious concern” over the continued detention of Kashmiri leaders, and urged India to fulfil its human rights obligations.
“Oppressive measures such as these cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.
The Himalayan region is divided between Pakistan and India, but both claim it all and have fought two wars over it since 1947.
The Security Council in 1948 told India and Pakistan to resolve the issue through peaceful means by letting the people of Kashmir decide through plebiscite which country they want to join.
Kashmir is a Muslim-majority area and has been gripped by a secessionist movement since the 1980s.
Nearly 44,000 people have been killed in violence related to militancy in the region, according to estimates.
India accuses Pakistan of sheltering rebels and helping them cross over to carry out attacks on Indian soil.
Islamabad says it provides diplomatic and political support only to the population of Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the “Sharif-Modi friendship” was causing irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause.
Bhutto on Sunday condemned the killing by security forces of civilian demonstrators who took to the streets in thousands after the death of a top Hizbul Mujahideen leader, Burhan Wani, Dawn online reported.
“Such aggression by Indian authorities has exposed the sham democracy prevailing in India,” he said.
Bhutto accused Nawaz Sharif of damaging Pakistan’s foreign policy by giving his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi a “certificate of friendship”.
Bhutto, who returns from London this week, is to address rallies in Pakistani Kashmir, an aide said.