Immediate restoration of communication in Kashmir: US Congresswoman
28 August, 2019
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Tuesday said there should be immediate restoration of communication in Kashmir. “We should be calling for an immediate restoration of communication; respect for human rights, democratic norms, and religious freedom; and de-escalation in Kashmir. International organizations should be allowed to fully document what is happening on the ground,” Ilhan posted on her Twitter handle.
The tweet came a day after US President Donald Trump on Monday took a U-turn from his earlier statement on mediation between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. “We spoke last night about Kashmir, the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) really feels he has it (situation) under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good,” Trump said during a media interaction on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the French town of Biarritz.
Modi also categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, saying the two countries can discuss and resolve all issues bilaterally and “we don’t want to trouble any third country.”
Last week, key lawmakers of US Congress had urged New Delhi to end the occupation and allow its residents to speak. Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, had called India’s US ambassador and told him that he was continuing to monitor the situation regarding the government of India’s decision to revoke the special status of the occupied valley. “There are legitimate concerns about the ongoing communications blackouts, increased militarisation of the region, and enforcement of curfews,” he had told the Indian envoy.
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York had said she was extremely concerned and was raising her voice about what’s happening in Kashmir. “Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has no right to do what he is doing to the people of Kashmir. And it is up to us to raise our voices for justice, to raise our voices for self-governance and for no discrimination based on religion,” she had said. “Prime Minister Modi should know better. We all must raise our voices.”
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