Now, Pakistan targets PM Modi directly, blames him for J&K violence

ISLAMABAD: Taking its already high-decibel rhetoric on J&K to another level altogether, Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif on Friday put the blame for violence in the state on PM Narendra Modi's shoulders, saying Kashmir was witnessing an extension of ethnic cleansing initiated by Modi in Gujarat.
"Massacre and genocide in Indian Occupied Kashmir is extention & re-enactment of ethnic cleansing started by Modi in Gujrat (sic)," he tweeted.The comment came after PM Nawaz Sharif announced on Friday that Pakistan would observe a Black Day on July 19 to express solidarity with Kashmiris over the violence in the valley . Sharif also described slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a martyr.
While India did not react to Asif's barb, it rejected "in entirety the decisions adopted by the cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir". Insisting that Pakistan had no locus standi in what was essentially a domestic issue, the MEA spokesperson said, "Continued glorification of terrorists belonging to proscribed terrorist organisations makes it amply clear where Pakistan's sympathies continue to lie." Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif on Friday put the blame for violence in Kashmir on PM Narendra Modi's shoulders, saying what Kashmir was witnessing was an extension of ethnic cleansing initiated by Modi in Gujarat.
India said it was dismayed at Pakistan's efforts to interfere in its internal matter even as Islamabad continued to internationalise the Kashmir issue with its foreign of fice on Friday briefing en voys of Middle East and African nations on "Indian atroc ities" in Kashmir.
The Pakistan announce ment about observing a Black Day was made at a special meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Nawaz Sharif at Governor House in Lahore.
The cabinet condemned the Indian government for calling Burhan Wani a terrorist. "Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep shock at the killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and many other civilians by the Indian military and paramili tary forces," the PM's office said in the statement.
"Indian tyranny will only strengthen the freedom movement in Kashmir and Pakis tan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomat ic support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for their right to self-determination," Sharif told those in attendance. "I and the entire Pakistani nation steadfastly stand by Kashmiris against Indian oppression," Sharif said.
"Kashmir will get freedom," the PM remarked.
"All institutions of Pakistan would highlight the tyranny of Indian security forces being meted out to innocent Kashmiris. Pakistan will also play its role in awakening the conscience of the international community in this regard," Sharif vowed. The special sitting of the federal cabinet decided to convene a joint session of parliament to discuss the ongoing violence.