ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level meeting of the National Security Council in Islamabad to discuss regional security, and termed the ongoing situation in Kashmir a violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif also attended the meeting, which was briefed on the situation in Kashmir and Afghanistan by the Foreign Office.

The meeting unanimously expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in India-held Kashmir (IHK) following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by Indian government forces, read a communiqué issued by PM House following the meeting.

The meeting also condemned "the subsequent brutal oppression of the Indian security forces over innocent Kashmiris who have been peacefully protesting" against the Indian violence in the region.

Nawaz maintained that the "brutal use of force is a blatant violation of fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people which no civilised society permits".

Indian attempts to claim the situation in held Kashmir as an internal matter are "factually incorrect, legally untenable and a violation of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions", the premier was quoted as saying.

The statement said India will not be able to legitimise its occupation in held Kashmir by suppressing the voices of Kashmiris. Nawaz reiterated that the only solution to the Kashmir issue would be "early implementation of UNSC resolutions ─ a fair and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices".

"We have provided and will continue to provide diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their fundamental right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions," the premier said.

The meeting resolved to approach the United Nations Human Rights Council on its own and also on behalf of the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir to request the body to send a fact-finding mission to IHK.

The fact-finding mission's aim would be to "investigate the slaughter of innocent civilians and impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest".

The meeting unanimously called upon the international community to condemn human rights violations by Indian security forces and play their role in ensuring the realisation of UNSC resolutions.

Earlier in the day, Premier Nawaz and the army chief met separately to discuss matters pertaining to internal and regional security, Radio Pakistan reported.

Pakistan calls Gulf countries to help Kashmiris

Pakistan has called upon Middle Eastern countries that in the spirit of solidarity and brotherhood in the Muslim Ummah. “They [Middle Eastern states] should raise their voice and condemn the blatant human rights violations of innocent Kashmiris in the Indian occupied Kashmir.”

The special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, briefed the ambassadors of the Middle Eastern countries in the Foreign Office over the grave human rights violations taking place in India-held Kashmir and conveyed Pakistan’s serious concern over the brutal killings of innocent civilians by the Indian Forces.

According to a communiqué issued after the meeting Fatemi said Muslims in held Kashmir looked towards their Muslim brethren in the Middle East at this difficult and challenging time.

He said the inhumane and oppressive measures cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.