[JURIST] The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs [official website] on Saturday accused [press release] India of human rights violations after a recent clash between the Indian army and rebels in Kashmir. On Friday, rebels engaged [BBC report] in a firefight with soldiers as part of their ongoing campaign to achieve Kashmir’s independence from India. The firefight left 200 injured and 16 dead including Burhan Wani, the militant commander of major rebel group Hizbul Mujahideen [official website]. After Burhan Wani’s funeral was held on Saturday, the violence continued with attacks against police stations and military installations. In response, Pakistan has called on [Indian Express report] the Indian government to prevent further violence by respecting human rights and recognizing the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. Furthermore, Pakistan has urged India to abide by its obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) [materials]. It is expected that the violence will only worsen should growing tensions in Kashmir not be resolved.

The Delhi High Court in India granted bail [JURIST report] in March to a student political leader arrested for rallying against the execution of Kashmiri separatist Mohammed Afzal Guru. The government justified the arrests of rallying students on the grounds that they supported the Kashmiri separatist movement and the break-up of India. In October 2014, Pakistan asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for assistance in border protection [JURIST report] after at least 14 people were shot and killed near Kashmir. In June 2015 independent UN human rights experts urged [JURIST report] Pakistan to adopt urgent legislation to put an end to faith-based killings and protect the country’s Ahmadiyya Muslim [BBC profile] community.