Pakistan regrets 'excessive use of force' in J-K

ISLAMABAD: Ignoring India's strong reaction to its comments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan on Tuesday again raked up the issue, seeking an "immediate end to violence" in the state.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who visited the office of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference here to express condolences over the death of Kashmiri separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, regretted what he described as the "excessive use of force" by Indian security forces.

Qureshi expressed his grief to Shaikh Yaqoob, the brother of Aziz, who was chief of Jammu and Kashmir People's League. Representatives of all members of Hurriyat were also present.

The Foreign Minister regretted the "excessive use of force by Indian security forces against the Kashmiri people and called for an immediate end to violence in Jammu and Kashmir", said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The statement came even as India reacted strongly to earlier comments by Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, terming these as "clear interference" in this country's internal affairs and cautioning that such remarks do not help the atmosphere for moving the bilateral talks process forward.

While commenting on Aziz's death during a protest, Qureshi had yesterday too condemned the "excessive and unwarranted use of force against" Kashmiris and called for immediate steps to end the violence in the Indian state.

"These statements constitute clear interference in the internal affairs of an integral part of India," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi, referring to remarks of Qureshi and Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq on Jammu and Kashmir.