‘Pak support for terror an obstacle’
apply all national laws in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in regard to women and minorities, Wells told the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
“While we support these objectives, the US State Department remains concerned about the situation in the Kashmir Valley, where daily life for the nearly eight million residents has been severely impacted since August 5,” Wells said in a prepared statement submitted to the Congressional subcommittee on the eve of the hearing ‘Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Department and the Region’.
India has maintained that any change to its laws over Kashmir is an internal issue and that any talks with Pakistan, if at all, will be held bilaterally.
Wells also said the US supports a direct dialogue between India and Pakistan, as outlined in the 1972 Shimla Agreement.
“We believe that direct dialogue between India and Pakistan, as outlined in the 1972 Shimla Agreement, holds the most potential for reducing tensions,” Wells said.
She said during 2006-2007 backchannel negotiations, India and Pakistan reportedly made significant progress on a number of issues, including Kashmir.
“History shows us what is possible,” Wells said in the statement.
“We believe the foundation of any successful dialogue between India and Pakistan is based on Pakistan taking sustained and irreversible steps against militants and terrorists in its territory,” she said.
Two Indian soldiers and a civilian were killed in the unprovoked ceasefire violation in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of October 19-20.
Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat said that terrorists have been advancing towards the camps in the forward areas. In last one month, he said, there have been repeated attempts.
Both US President Donald Trump and secretary of state Mike Pompeo have met and spoken with their Indian and Pakistani counterparts multiple times, including at the recent United Nations General Assembly, to encourage dialogue, she told lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Wells also said in her statement that incidents of violence and discrimination against minorities, including attacks on Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes, are not in keeping with India’s legal protections for minorities. Noting that the US is proud to partner with India, Wells said its Constitution mandates a secular state that upholds the rights of all citizens to practice religion freely, freedom of expression and speech, and equal treatment before the law. “Incidents of violence and discrimination against minorities in India, including cow vigilante attacks against members of the Dalit and Muslim communities, and the existence of anti-conversion laws in nine states are not in keeping with India’s legal protections for minorities,” Wells told the committees.