NEW DELHI — U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he was refused permission tovisit Kashmir on his trip to India this week as the Indian government’sclampdown in the restive region enters a third month.
Van Hollen is one of nearly 50 memberslinkofCongress who have expressed concernlink at the situation in Kashmirlink.Indian authorities have deployed thousands of additional troops, shut downInternet access and mobile phone service, arrested more than 3,000 peoplelinkanddetained nearly all of the region’s political leadership, Washington Posthas reported.
The crackdown coincided with India’s announcement on Aug. 5 that it wouldstrip Muslim-majority Kashmir of its autonomy and statehoodlink.The Indian government says the detentions and restrictions on communicationare necessary to prevent violent and potentially deadly protests inresponse to its announcement.AD
Van Hollen, a Democrat who represents Maryland, said he asked to go toKashmir so he could see the ground reality for himself.
“If the Indian government has nothing to hide, they should not worry aboutpeople visiting Kashmir and witnessing the situation with their own eyes,”Van Hollen said in an interview Friday in New Delhi.
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As the world’s two largest democracies, India and the United States “talk alot about our shared values,” he said. “I think this is a moment wheretransparency is important.”
Last month, Van Hollen proposed an amendment to an appropriations billlinkthatreferred explicitly to the restrictions implemented by India. Whileencouraging “enhanced engagement with India on issues of mutual interest,”it also noted “with concern the current humanitarian crisis in Kashmir” andcalled on the Indian government to restore communications and releasedetainees.
