Washington, Jan 12: The US State Department has described the recent visit of envoys of 15 countries to Jammu and Kashmir as an "important step" but expressed concern over the continued detention of political leaders and restrictions on internet in the region.
Alice Wells, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, tweeted on Saturday that she was "closely following" the visit of the envoys to Kashmir, describing it an "important step".
Wells, who will be visiting India this week, added: "We remain concerned by detention of political leaders and residents and Internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy."
The group of diplomats made a two-day visit to the Union Territory on Thursday and Friday to see the conditions thereafter Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status was removed last August.
While some US politicians and media have criticised the action by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, the US has officially appeared to support the abrogation of the Constitution's Article 370 on the special status.
Last October, Wells told the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific that the State Department supported the objectives behind it, while not directly mentioning the abrogation.
"The Indian government has argued that its decision on Article 370 was driven by a desire to increase economic development, reduce corruption, and uniformly apply all national laws in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in regard to women and minorities.
"While we support these objectives, the Department remains concerned about the situation in the Kashmir Valley, where daily life for the nearly eight million residents has been severely impacted since August 5," she had said.
Washington has banked on India's democratic institutions - the judiciary and public debates - being able to steer the country.
Bearing this out, the Supreme Court last week ordered the government to review its decision to shut down the internet in Kashmir, which it declared was a fundamental right, thus taking a step to address Wells's concern.
Comments
Dear Shobha Karandlaje. This victim is a Beary. So kindly don’t include his name in your prolonged list of slain Hindu karyakarthas.
No anna the killers of RAO are BJP workers (minority sect) but BJP moved...this killer is a paid hitman,
Lesson for All Rowdy if we play with other life one day our life will end .. like tiz..
THAQDHEER BANA NE WALA KAM NAHEEN ! JIS KO KYA MILA WO MUQADDAR KI BAAT HAI
Cops wanted him dead.
That’s why he got bail.
Anyway this is a cleanup drive.
So many cases against him, really a big threat to the mangalore. Good Decision by police department :P
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un,
Notorious rowdy died a dog’s death!
This may be the preplanned murder, big question is how he can get bail so soon.
No He was gang leader of Target Group.
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, how can he get bail so soon, need to question our Constituency?
out of contest! in mangalore no ending of murder?
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, May allah grant him Jannah
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, dear brothers this s eye opener incident to all, pls leave peacefully.
is this same guy who killed Deepak Rao?
Youth dont understand the situation in mangalore. for every start thr will be a bad ending.
he recieved what he wanted.
Really sad but he was really a threat to the society.
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
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