Bid to trick the world

EU, US, and even the UN have been denied permission to send their own teams to occupied Kashmir

A delegation of 27 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has become the first international delegation to visit India-Occupied Kashmir since the repressive security crackdown was imposed on August 5. Even today, there is no internet access in Kashmir, though most phones have started working. At least 22 of the 27 MEPs are from far-right political parties. While the Indian government backed the visit, the European Parliament and the European Union hierarchy were not involved in the planning. In fact, several European embassies in New Delhi were unaware of the visit until Monday, when the delegates met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. EU officials also distanced themselves from the delegation, saying it was not an official visit and the EU had no role in organising any of their meetings.

On Monday, Modi told the EU legislators that the visit would give them a clear view of the development priorities of the region. He also claimed that special rights for Kashmir, such as a ban on outsiders buying property, had hindered its development. Given the far-right views of the MEPs, it will be interesting to see if they back Modi in his desire to let ‘outsiders’ relocate to Kashmir and take over land and industry from the ethnically different local population. Unfortunately, the fact is that European far-right parties, to varying degrees, are all anti-Islam. That, and the curious ‘private’ nature of the visit, would hint at a pre-decided statement already being worked out to support India’s position, with rubber-stamp support from the delegates.

As it stands, the EU, the US, and even the UN have been denied permission to send their own teams to investigate India’s criminal actions in the disputed state because, according to Indian media and politicians, they are under the influence of the Pakistan lobby. Curiously, this powerful lobby has not been able to get Pakistan removed from the FATF watchlist, increased foreign aid, or get any other benefits. Maybe this is because they aren’t under the influence of Pakistan. They are genuinely concerned by India’s oppression of over 12 million people whom it claims are its citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2019.

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