AGENCIES / WEB DESK
In a far reaching remarks, United States Friday expressed concern over the “widespread detentions” and “urged” Indian authorities to “respect human rights”. Washington has also asked Indian authorities to “resume political engagement with local leaders” and hold “elections at the earliest”.
The reaction came a month after political leaders were detained and communication restrictions put in place in Jammu and Kashmir.
This gives a clear evolution of the US administration’s position, especially weeks before the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to the US for the UN General Assembly in New York.
This is the strongest statement by the Trump administration so far on the Centre’s move to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. It comes after US President Donald Trump had said on August 26 that he had discussed the issue on August 25 over dinner and had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “really feels he has it under control”.
There was no official statement from New Delhi in response to the US State Department’s comments.
Responding to questions, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said: “We continue to be very concerned by widespread detentions, including of local political and business leaders, and the restrictions on the residents of the region. We are also concerned about reports that Internet and mobile phone access continues to be blocked in certain regions.”
We urge authorities to respect human rights and restore access to services such as the Internet and mobile networks. We look forward to the Indian government’s resumption of political engagement with local leaders and the scheduling of promised elections at the earliest opportunity.”
This is a clear evolution of the US administration’s position, especially weeks before the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to the US for the UN General Assembly in New York.
Friday’s comments – released by the US embassy in Delhi – indicate that this approach is very different from the US position on August 6, when it had said that they “take note” that the Indian government has described these actions as strictly an internal matter. They had said that they were concerned about reports of detentions and urge respect for individual rights and discussion with those in affected communities.
Last month, on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in Biarritz in France, Modi had said that all issues with Pakistan are bilateral and India doesn’t bother any other country about them. “India and Pakistan were together before 1947 and I’m confident that we can discuss our problems and solve them, together,” he said.