Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday once again questioned the international community’s silence on Kashmir and warned that should ethnic cleansing of Muslims take place in the region, there would be severe repercussions in the Muslim world.

The premier’s message came as the curfew and communications blackout imposed by New Delhi in Kashmir entered its 12th day. Aug.15 is also India’s Independence Day, which is being observed as a black day across Pakistan to protest the brutalities and human rights abuses in Kashmir.

“In Kashmir, 12 days of curfew, presence of extra troops in an already heavily militarised occupied territory, sending in of RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] goons, complete communication blackout — with the example of Modi’s earlier ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Gujarat,” Imran tweeted.

His Twitter account carried a plain black image instead of his profile photograph.

“Will [the] world silently witness another Srebrenica-type massacre and ethnic cleansing of Muslims in IoK? I want to warn the international community if it allows this to happen, it will have severe repercussions and reactions in the Muslim world, setting off radicalisation and cycles of violence.”

The decision to mark India’s independence day as Black Day was taken at the National Security Committee meeting, presided by the prime minister, last week in the wake of the Indian move to revoke Article 370 that gave Kashmir an autonomous status and to split the held Valley into two territories.

The Black Day was observed by flying the national flag at half-mast and staging rallies across Pakistan.

Officials said the observance of Black Day is aimed at expressing indignation against the Indian imperialism in the state.

“Anti-India rallies followed by protest demonstrations in all small and major cities and towns at both sides of the LoC will be hallmark of the day,” a spokesman of the Azad Kashmir government said.

Participants of the protest rallies wore black bands around their arms as a sign of hatred against India.

In Azad Kashmir, anti-India rallies were staged and processions brought out in all small and major cities, including Muzaffarabad and all nine district headquarters of Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Bhimbher, Palandri, Rawalakot, Haveili, Jhelum Valley and Neelam valley by the people belonging to all walks of life to reiterate severe anger at the Indian imperialism.

In Mirpur, the major protest rally to observe the Indian Independence Day as black day was taken out from District Courts premises under the auspices of the National Events Organising Committee Mirpur district.

Meanwhile, Pakistan said three of its soldiers were killed in a cross-border exchange of fire in the contested Kashmir region, but India denied that five of its troops died too.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesman of Pakistan armed forces, tweeted that its three soldiers had died along with five of India’s when Indian forces opened fire along the contested border known as the Line of Control.

“Intermittent exchange of fire continues,” Ghafoor said.

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that military is fully alive to the sanctity of Jammu and Kashmir and will remain fully ready to perform its part in line with our national duty for Kashmir cause.

He said the Pakistan army will stand in the face of tyranny, regardless of the cost. “Reality of Kashmir was neither changed by an illegal piece of paper in 1947 nor will any other do it now or in future,” said the army chief in a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor.

Bajwa said Pakistan has always stood by Kashmiris against India’s hegemonic ambitions  and there can never be a compromise on Kashmir.

Pakistan also summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia in Islamabad at the Foreign Office and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

Tariq Butt / Agencies