US senators urge Trump to act swiftly to end humanitarian crisis in Indian occupied Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: A group of the United States (US) senators has urged President Donald Trump to help end the on-going India’s clampdown in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin, Lindsey Graham and Todd Young in a letter to the US president asked him to immediately act to stop the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Kashmir.
Expressing their concern regarding the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, the lawmakers pressed Donald Trump to ask Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the lockdown and curfew, and release the hundreds of innocent Kashmiris detained under the controversial Public Safety Act.
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The US Senators noted that with each passing day, the situation for the people of Kashmir becomes increasingly difficult. They said Modi should be called upon to restore telecommunication and internet services, lift the lockdown and curfew and release Kashmiris detained pursuant to India’s revocation of Article 370.
They hoped the US can play a constructive role in helping resolve the underlying disputes between the two nuclear powers, Pakistan and India.
On August 5, the Indian government unilaterally revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which afforded autonomy the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Shortly before revoking Article 370, India deployed tens of thousands of additional troops to the Kashmir valley, imposed curfews on its residents, and severed communications to the region, including access to medical services, prevented families from contacting each other and disrupted the local economy. Press reports indicate that at least 4,000 people have subsequently been detained in Kashmir and held under the Public Safety Act – a controversial law that allows authorities to imprison someone for up to two years without charge or trial – including local politicians, activists, academics and students, read the letter.
