WASHINGTON: US Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Beto O Rourke have expressed serious concerns over deteriorating situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

They made the comments during the meeting with Pakistani American Texas-based leading Pakistani businessman and high ranking influential member of the Democratic Party Tahir Javed and his fellow Nouman Hussain, the Kashmir Media Service reported.

Beto O’Rourke – in a race of Democratic presidential candidate – expressed serious concerns, saying that the US must come forward and put its efforts for ensuring peace and stability in the South Asia.

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Harris said, “We have to remind the Kashmiris that they are not alone in the world. We are keeping a track on the situation. There is a need to intervene if the situation demands.”

40,000 Kashmiris arrested since August 5

Indian forces have arrested around 40,000 Kashmiris since August 5, the day when India abrogated Article 370 to scrap Jammu and Kashmir of its special status in the Indian constitution.

This was disclosed by Sheema Mohsin, a senior leader of the Welfare Party of India (WPI) during a media interview in New Delhi. Sheema along with a three-member delegation of Welfare Party of India visited occupied Kashmir from September 12 and 13.

The party leaders said that the people of Kashmir had expressed total trust deficit with India for its unilateral decisions with respect to Articles 370 and 35A.

The WPI delegation, led by its President SQR Ilyas and comprising other office-bearers Sheema Mohsin and Subramani Arumugam, visited Kashmir for two days on September 12 and 13 and interacted with people at large to gouge the mood in the Valley.

Sheema Mohsin said that the people were in difficulty yet they were determined to fight for their fundamental rights.