WASHINGTON – In yet another embarassment for India, US Congress seekanswers from Indian Ambassador over Occupied Kashmir conflict.
The United States (US) congress has demanded answers from Harsh VardhanShringla, the Indian Ambassador to the US, regarding the current crisis inIndian-occupied Kashmir (IoK)
Six members of the US Congress have written a letter to the ambassadorasking follow-up questions to a congressional briefing on Kashmir. OnOctober 16, House Foreign Affairs Committee was briefed by Shringla, whoupdated them about the situation in IoK.
The Congress members noted that the update by Shringla is different to whattheir constituents have painted a picture of the region.
“We believe true transparency can only be achieved when journalists andmembers of congress are allowed free access to the region. We encourageIndia to open Jammu and Kashmir to both domestic and foreign journalistsand other international visitors in the interest of open and increasedcommunication,” the congress members urged.
The members have raised several questions regarding the IoK. In theirletter, the members said that they have heard that Indian government isusing rubber bullets on protesters, which has caused the demonstrators tobe blind.
“Can you confirm whether there are known cases of protesters being blindedby rubber bullets, including the number of children? Are rubber bulletsstill being used for crowd control? What is the Indian government doing toensure rights of peaceful protesters,” the members wrote.
Read Top Stories
They have raised concern on whether the internet and landline services havebeen restored in the region and if not when will the Indian governmentrestore the connections.
They have also questioned how many people have been detained since August 5and whether the detained includes minors.
Speaking about the curfew imposed in occupied Kashmir, the congress membersasked, “What is the government’s plan to allow residents to return toinhibited movement. When can we expect that?”
They members also questioned the ban on foreign journalists from visitingthe valley and have demanded answers as to when will the government allowjournalists to visit.
