Incidents involving the deaths of children due to firing by Pakistani forces in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir have sparked widespread concern among the civilian population. On Thursday, October 12, it was reported that 14-year-old student Ayesha Saqib was killed in Rawalakot, while her 12-year-old sister sustained severe injuries.
Ayesha Saqib was a student at Iqra Public School. According to reports, she was struck by gunfire. The incident has left the area in a state of grief and outrage.
Previously, several other children have been killed by Pakistani forces—an act described as part of a policy of genocide against the Kashmiri people. Lists of children killed by Pakistani forces on various occasions are circulating on social media; these include Malaika Shaktar, Haris Shaktar, Zeeshan Azhar, and others.
In a separate incident in Bagh, two children were killed when Pakistani forces launched a bomb attack on a house.
These events have raised serious questions regarding the safety of civilians—particularly children—in Jammu and Kashmir. From a human rights perspective, there are calls for an impartial investigation into these incidents, the identification of those responsible, and their subsequent accountability.
Local groups have demanded an end to the use of force against the civilian population, the provision of immediate medical care for the injured girl, and the cessation of operations by security forces in the area. Citizens state that for lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir, respect for the fundamental rights of the people, human dignity, and the right to self-determination is essential.
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