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Pak. condemns Pandits' killing

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD MARCH 24. Pakistan today characterised the brutal massacre of 25 Kashmiri Pandits early this morning as an ``act of terrorism'' and said it strongly condemned the killings.

A brief statement by the Pakistan Foreign Office did not comment on the persons or groups who could be responsible for the dastardly act.

``The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the massacre of 24 Pandits in Nadimarg village in Shopian. This blatant act of terrorism, reportedly carried out by persons wearing Indian Army uniforms, is reprehensible. The Government of Pakistan also offers condolences to the bereaved families'', it said.

However, in another statement on the assassination of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen factional leader, Abdul Majid Dar, Pakistan seems to point fingers at the Indian Government. The Foreign Ministry statement on the death of Dar, who was expelled from the Hizb-ul last year following his differences with its chief, Syed Salahuddin, blames the Indian Government.

Pakistan strongly condemned the cold-blooded murder of Dar, who had devoted his entire life for the ``struggle against injustice and oppression of the people of Kashmir''.

``The people of Pakistan share the grief of the family and the people of Kashmir over the loss of Abdul Majeed Dar and pray for the health of his mother and sister also injured in the attack. Pakistan urges India to quickly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime'', it said.

Diplomatic and political circles here are alarmed over the two developments in the last 48 hours and believe that they do not augur well for the already strained Indo-Pak relations.

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