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US Congress Raise Concern Stating “Jammu Kashmir Situation Not Normal”

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US Congress Raise Concern Stating "Jammu Kashmir Situation Not Normal"

The United States Congress foreign affairs committee after receiving a bipartisan letter on Kashmir expressed their concern saying normalcy is yet to return in Jammu Kashmir after a year of abrogation.

The Chairman of the committee Eliot L. Engel and ranking member Michael T. McCaul on the first anniversary of abrogation of Special Status of Jammu Kashmir wrote a joint letter addressed to External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishakar, “We note with concern that conditions in Jammu and Kashmir have not normalized one year after India’s repeal of Article 370 and the establishment of Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territory.”

The House Foreign Affairs Committee shared the letter on their twitter and wrote, “Chairman  @RepEliotEngel and Ranking Member @RepMcCaul express bipartisan support for the U.S.- India relationship while noting their concern that one year after the revocation of article 370, things have yet to normalize in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Last year on 5th August in the parliament of Indian, Modi led government scrapped Articles 370 and 35-A. Jammu Kashmir got bifurcated into two Union Territories (UT)  i.e. Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh respectively. With the revocation of the semi-autonomous state of Kashmir, there was a heavy deployment of military, the lockdown was imposed and all sorts of communication were snapped in both UTs.

The letter says that the committee looks forward to working with the Indian government to address these concerns. The letter also stated that this relationship had greater value with India going through a crisis at the India-China border, where commanders are still not able to agree on the disengagement process.

“This closer relationship is all the more important as India faces aggression from China along your shared border, which is part of the Chinese government’s consistent pattern of unlawful and belligerent territorial aggression across the Indo-Pacific. The United States will remain steadfast in support of India’s efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said

Several US Congress representatives took it to Twitter expressing their solidarity with people of Kashmir and condemning the abrogation of Article 370 on its first anniversary: 

Rep Rashida Talib tweeted, “#OTD one year ago, India made the unfortunate decision to revoke #Article370 and robbed the Kashmiri people of their self-governance and basic civil liberties. I condemned the decision then and now, in the midst of the global #COVID19 pandemic, I am reaffirming that condemnation.”

“Under the intensified lockdown in Kashmir pursued as a result of #COVID19, the continued detention of political prisoners and civilians, including children and the ailing, is all the more egregious and must be stopped.”

“I previously intro’d #HRes724 to condemn the inhumane abuses in #Jammu & #Kashmir. To our Kashmiri neighbors here & around the world, know that silence is not an option & I will continue to pursue avenues of peace & justice for you & your loved ones,” she added. 

“One year ago, self-autonomy, freedom of expression, assembly, and movement were restricted in Kashmir. COVID19 has exacerbated this humanitarian crisis I continue to stand with the Kashmiri people against this injustice,” tweeted Rep Anthony Brwon.

“It has been a year since India initiated a harsh crackdown on freedom of expression and human rights in Kashmir. Unfortunately, a new report shows that many abuses continue: hrw.org/news/2020/08/0“, tweeted Rep Don Beyer.

“Upsetting news marking a year since the Indian government revoked Jammu & Kashmir’s autonomy & plunged the region into blackout to squash dissent. I said then the US must make clear these actions don’t befit the world’s largest democracy. Sadly, we must do the same today,” tweeted Rep. Andy Levin.

“It’s been a year since the people of #Kashmir –including families of my constituents – have lived in lockdown under our democratically India. Detaining civilians (including children) and preventing access to telehealth, education and other critical services is inhumane!”, tweeted Rep Jackie Speier.

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