Imran calls on Pakistanis to take part in 'Kashmir Hour'

Islamabad : Even as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday called on his countrymen to take part in "Kashmir Hour", to be observed on Friday to show "solidarity with Kashmiris", amid tensions between the two neighbours over India's revocation of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, India has strongly condemned "highly irresponsible" actions.

"I want all Pakistanis to come out tomorrow 12 noon-12.30 p.m. to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people and send the Kashmiris in Indian-occupied Kashmir a clear message that the entire Pakistani nation stands in solidarity with them," he said on Twitter.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Pakistan has been using terrorism as state policy against India and it must stop exporting terror.

"We strongly condemn highly irresponsible statements by Pakistani leadership on matters internal to India," he said, in what is seen as a direct reference to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments.

"The provocative statements from Pakistan include call for jihad and inciting violence in India," Kumar said.

In a series of tweets, Khan said that Pakistanis needed to send a message that "we were against Indian fascist oppression, the inhumane 24-day curfew, the daily injuring and killing of Kashmiri civilians including women and children -- all parts of the Modi government's agenda of ethnic cleansing and illegal annexation of Indian occupied Kashmir".

The cricketer-turned-politician said that "the plan to change the demography of Indian occupied Kashmir was a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention".

"We must send a strong message to Kashmiris that our nation stands resolutely behind them. So I am asking all Pakistanis for half an hour tomorrow, stop whatever you are doing and come out on the road to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people," he added.