At least 20 people have been killed in a brutal crackdown by Pakistani security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to NDTV. The news outlet reported that the area was "filled with dead bodies" following the operation.
The crackdown targeted protesters in the region. NDTV cited Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif as defending the killings, stating that the demonstrators are "enemies like India." Asif reportedly made the remarks while justifying the deaths of 32 PoK protesters in a separate incident, as reported by India Today.
The Hindu noted that Indian political parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, have condemned the security forces' actions in PoK. The Times of India also reported that India has criticized the PoK elections and Pakistan's claims over the Indus Valley heritage.
The exact timeline and location of the latest killings remain unclear from the available reports. The crackdown appears to be part of a broader security operation in the region, which has seen rising tensions in recent weeks.
Observers will be watching for further international reaction and any official statement from the Pakistani government regarding the civilian casualties.
