NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday strongly condemned Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif’s “we’ll go to war over Indus” remark, dismissing it as an attempt by Islamabad to deflect attention from its human rights abuses.“Such remarks are desperate attempts by Pakistan to cover up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses. We categorically reject these fabricated claims with the contempt that they deserve,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press brief.He also spoke on the ongoing protest in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying the agitation was a “direct consequence” of “systemic economic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation”.“The ongoing protests in Pakistan occupied Kashmir are a direct consequence of Pakistan’s decades long policy of systemic economic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation in Pakistani state has responded with systemic economic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation, Pakistani state has responded with extreme police brutality, blocking of essential supplies and medicines, internet blackouts, and use of lethal force against unarmed civilians,” Jaiswal said.Earlier, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif issued a warning to India, saying Islamabad could resort to military action if its water security comes under threat. His remarks come as Pakistan grapples with a worsening water crisis, more than a year after New Delhi suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack.Speaking in an interview with ARY News, Asif declared that “the moment we feel that our national security, and water is part of our national security, is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely.”Tensions built up across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in clashes between Pakistani security forces and anti-government protesters.Videos circulating on social media showed large crowds gathering in Barnala, Bhimber and Mirpur, while security personnel fired tear gas shells at protesters in Muzaffarabad. Other footage showed markets shut across the city as tensions escalated following clashes between workers of the Joint Awami Action Committee and Pakistani security forces.