Resume Political Engagement In Kashmir, Schedule Elections At Earliest thewire.in

The US has again called for India to resume “political engagement” with Kashmiri leaders and schedule elections at the “earliest opportunity”, even as it reiterated concern about continuing detentions of local politicians.The latest statement comes just after a week the US had first raised publicly the need for the Indian government to allow “normal” political activities in Jammu and Kashmir following the imposition of restrictions on communication and movement following the reading down of Article 370 of the Indian constitution.On August 29, the US embassy spokesperson said that they welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that “Jammu and Kashmir will soon return to normal political status”.

The use of the phrase “normal political status” was interpreted to include both early elections and a return to state status for Jammu and Kashmir, which was an aspiration that the prime minister held out in his address to the nation on August 8.In a statement released on Friday (India time), US state department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus stated for the first time explicitly that India should hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir soon.We continue to be very concerned by widespread detentions, including of local political and business leaders, and the restrictions on the residents of the region. We are also concerned about reports that internet and mobile phone access continues to be blocked in certain regions.