[DAWN] Azad Jammu and Kashmire (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Sunday claimed that Indian security forces are using "chemical weapons" against civilians in India-held Kashmire (IHK).The AJK president, delivering a speech in Islamabad to mark International Human Rights Day, said that there have been a number of deaths due to the use of chemical weapons in IHK.
Earlier this year, the Foreign Office also tried to draw attention towards the use of chemical munitions against civilians in IHK. It was the first time that such a serious allegation had been levelled by Pakistain against India.
A series of international treaties, specifically the Chemical Weapons Convention, prohibits the use of chemical weapons not only in international armed conflicts but also non-international armed conflicts rather in all circumstances.
Sardar Khan also claimed that attempts are being made to change the population ratio in Kashmire.