European Parliament asks France, EU to impose sanctions against terrorist activities in Pakistan

According to ANI, the letter was sent to French government and the European Union just ahead of the Black Day (Oct 22, when in 1947 Pakistan brutally invaded Kashmir) observance  on Thursday.

“This 22 October, we call on the French government and the European Union to introduce sanctions against the unabated terrorist activities emanating from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. France, Europe, and the world, cannot afford the murder of any additional innocent victims nor should it live in fear from the threats of terrorism,” read the letter.

The letter was addressed to France President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula Von de Leyen, the news agency reported.

“Pakistan observes 27 October each year as a ‘Black Day’ to mark the entry of Indian forces into the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. This is despite the fact that Indian forces had come to the state after the ruler had legally acceded to India by signing the Instrument of Accession. In fact, by doing so, Pakistan masked its own invasion of the state on 22 October 1947 using tribals. During the invasion, 35000 Kashmiri Muslim, Hindu and Sikh civilians were massacred. Thousands of women and children were raped and killed,” said the members in the letter.

Black Day on Oct 22 is observed to mark the sacrifices made by countless Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims to defeat the invasion of the erstwhile Princely State by the Pakistan Army in 1947, often touted as the tribal invasion.

The day is being observed at a time when Jammu and Kashmir, now a union territory, is observing the first anniversary of the scrapping of Article 370 of Indian Constitution.

The Article had given special status to the former state which was turned into a union territory by New Delhi in Aug 2019 following its bifurcation.