US legislators pass resolution on Jammu & Kashmir

The United States House of Representatives has introduced a resolution asking India to end the restrictions on communication and mass detentions in Jammu and Kashmir. It also acknowledging the challenges that India faces from cross-border terrorism.

Resolution number 745 was introduced by Pramila Jayapal, an Indian American Democrat lawmaker and Republican lawmaker Steve Watkins.

It has been more than four months now since politicians have been in detention in Jammu and Kashmir. This is after Article 370 that gave autonomy to the state was revoked by the Modi government. There is no Internet and schools and shops remain largely closed.

The Indian government must quickly lift restrictions on cell phones and internet access, release arbitrarily detained people, protect free speech and peaceful protest, and condemn all religiously motivated violence at the highest levels across India. – Pramila Jayapal, House of Representatives, United States

The US House of Representatives also said it “recognises the dire security challenges faced by the Government and India in Jammu and Kashmir and the continuing threat of state-supported cross-border terrorism”.

In October, India said it is regrettable that a few US lawmakers used a Congressional hearing to question measures to protect the lives of people in J&K. “It is regrettable that a few members of the US Congress used the Congressional hearing on human rights in South Asia to question the measures taken recently to safeguard life, peace and security in Kashmir,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

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