By Islamuddin Sajid
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistan on Thursday condemned the killing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar calling it a “cold-blooded and callous genocide”.
“The Government of Pakistan condemns the cold-blooded and callous genocide of innocent Rohingya Muslims, including women, children and even infants under the direct patronage of state institutions of Myanmar,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House.
It added that a resolution against Myanmar had been passed during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
“The brutal and barbaric acts perpetrated against the unarmed civilian population not only constitutes state terrorism, but also questions the collective human conscience across nations and societies,” the statement said.
“These atrocities reveal the appalling hypocrisy of the democratic leadership of Myanmar.”
“We call upon Nobel laureate Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi to take immediate steps to stop the atrocities being committed in Myanmar where her party is in power.”
Pakistan demanded the U.N. to take lead and stop the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Fresh violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine state nearly two weeks ago when security forces launched an operation against the Rohingya community. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to raise the plight of Rohingya at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 19.
Bangladesh, which already hosted around 400,000 Rohingya refugees, has faced a fresh influx of refugees since the security operation was launched.
Rohingya, described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
Last October, following attacks on border posts in Rakhine’s Maungdaw district, Myanmar security forces launched a five-month crackdown in which, according to Rohingya groups, around 400 people were killed.
The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings — including infants and young children — brutal beatings and disappearances committed by security personnel.
In a report, UN investigators said the human rights violations indicated crimes against humanity.
Before the fresh operation, the military had boosted its presence in Maungdaw after a wave of deadly attacks claimed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which said it had acted in response to raids, killings and looting by soldiers.
