ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Wednesday expressed concerns at the loss of tourist’s lives in an attack in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan has issued a statement responding to media queries concerning the attack in occupied Kashmir.
“We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.
At least 26 people, including an Indian Navy officer, were killed and several others were injured when gunmen opened fire at tourists in a deadliest attack in the region in two decades.
The attack took place in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam, which is located around 90 kilometers from Srinagar.
Police said the dead persons included 25 Indian and one national of Nepal, adding that injured have been shifted to hospital.
Reports said a little-known group, the “Kashmir Resistance,” has claimed the responsibility for the attack in a statement shared on social media.
The group expressed discontent that more than 85,000 “outsiders” had been settled in the region to change demographic status.
In 2019, the Indian government abolished the special status of the occupied Kashmir, dividing it in two federally administrated region – Jammu and Kahsmir, and Ladakh. The move made the outsiders to obtain the domicile of the region and get jobs on the basis of it.
