WEB DESK

UN has said Pakistan-based banned terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen recruited and used children in Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres , in his annual report on Children and Armed Conflict. He said three incidents of recruitment and use of children by the two terror outfits were reported in Jammu and Kashmir during clashes with the security forces.

Secretary General said one case was attributed to Jaish-e-Mohammed and two to Hizbul Mujahideen. The report said globally, over 10,000 children were killed or maimed in conflict last year while more than 8,000 were recruited or used as combatants. The report covers 20 countries, including Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, India, the Philippines and Nigeria.

In Pakistan, the report said, the UN continued to receive reports of the recruitment and use of children, including from madrassas. The report also mentioned the use of children by armed groups for suicide attacks. Guterres said he is concerned by the continued attacks on schools by armed groups, particularly the targeting of girls’ education.