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WASHINGTON -In a big diplomatic success for Pakistan, first time ever UStakes actions against India over Occupied Kashmir.
In first ever step towards legislative action by American lawmakers againstIndia on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,linkUnited States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has added an appeal toend what it calls a “humanitarian crisis” in Kashmir in its report ahead ofthe annual Foreign Appropriations Act for 2020.
The amendment was proposed by Senator Chris Van Hollen, who visited Delhithis week as a part of a congressional delegation that discussed theKashmir situation as well as India-US bilateral relations, trade ties anddefence purchases with key officials, The Hindu has reported.‘Restore communication’
According to the report, which was submitted to the Senate by LindseyGraham, senior Senator and key Republican leader known for his close tiesto President Donald Trump, the committee on Appropriations “notes withconcern the current humanitarian crisis in Kashmir and calls on theGovernment of India to: fully restore telecommunications and Internetservices; lift its lockdown and curfew; and release individuals detainedpursuant to the Government’s revocation of Article 370 of the Indianconstitution.”
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What makes the report as well as the tough language on Kashmir morestartling is that the document was submitted on September 26, while PrimeMinister Narendra Modi was still in the US, and came just a few days afterhis joint address at the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event in Houston with Mr. Trump, aswell as their bilateral meeting in New York.Expression of concern
“This amendment, which was accepted unanimously by the bipartisancommittee, is a strong expression of concern by the Senate about thesituation in Kashmir and sends the signal that we are closely monitoringthe human rights situation there, and would like to see the Government ofIndia take those concerns seriously,” Mr. Van Hollen told *The Hindu *here,adding that he had “hoped to share his concerns privately” with PrimeMinister Modi, but had not been able to meet him.
