Pak declared JeM commander Burhan Wani a martyr under pressure: Ex-foreign secy

Islamabad: Pakistan has declared Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a "martyr" and July 19 as black day under emotional pressure from the public, a former foreign secretary of the Islamic republic said.

"In the beginning, our reactions were low key. But the government came under pressure from people and media. If is difficult to try and cool it because of the emotive aspect of the issue," the Times of India quoted him as saying in Beijing.

"We must not allow the situation to go out of hand. But it depends on how India handles the situation," he was quoted as saying.

"Pakistan does not want to play up the situation. But we have an obligation to bring it to the notice of the international community,” TOI quoted him as saying.

"Every Kashmiri on our side considers him (Burhan) a martyr," Khokhar said.

Burhan Wani along with his two associates was shot dead by security forces in Kashmir on July 8, triggering widespread protests in the state as thousands of people in the Valley took to the streets to protest against the killing.

The situation was brought under control after huge contingents of security personnel were deployed in the Valley to rein in the protesters.

Political parties from across the spectrum have condemned the violence and the attempts to project terrorist Burhani Wani as a martyr.

They also lauded the security forces for their role in calming the situation in Kashmir.