India, June 9 -- India strongly criticised Pakistan over the reported killing of 11 protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), describing the violence as a "desperate bid to cover up its failures" in the region.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the reported crackdown by Pakistani security forces on protesters and expressed concern over the loss of civilian lives during the unrest in PoK. According to reports, at least 11 people were killed and more than 70 others injured during clashes between protesters and security personnel.

India accused Pakistan of attempting to suppress dissent through force instead of addressing the grievances of people living in the region. The MEA said such actions reflected Islamabad's inab...