New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- Former Indian Ambassador to Iran Dinkar P Srivastava on Monday launched a sharp critique of Pakistan's handling of ongoing civil unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), condemning Islamabad's military response and changing rhetoric toward local demonstrators.

Speaking with ANI, Srivastava pointed to a stark shift in Islamabad's official narrative regarding protesters in regions such as Mirpur and Rawalakot amid the ongoing assembly elections. He noted that Pakistani officials initially sought to distance themselves from the local population when protests erupted over living conditions and civil grievances.

"The first statement on the protest came from Pakistan's Defense Minister who described people of...