US expresses concern over illegal detentions, internet ban in occupied Kashmir

Internet ban in occupied Kashmir has been in place for 161 days

Senior US diplomat Alice Wells has expressed concerns over the continued detentions and internet shutdown in India Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

Wells, the top US diplomat for South Asia, is due to undertake a visit to New Delhi for bilateral talks.

“Closely following US ambassador to India and other foreign diplomats’ recent trip to Jammu & Kashmir. Important step,” said the diplomat in a tweet on the US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs official Twitter account.

“We remain concerned by detention of political leaders and residents, and Internet restrictions,” the tweet continued. “We look forward to a return to normalcy.”

Closely following @USAmbIndia & other foreign diplomats’ recent trip to Jammu & Kashmir. Important step. We remain concerned by detention of political leaders and residents, and Internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy. AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) January 11, 2020

Today is the 162nd day of communication blackout in the occupied valley.

Wells was referring to the Indian government-organised two-day trip to the occupied region last week. Juster was part of a group comprising foreign diplomats. The group met with select political representatives and civil society members, and top Indian military brass.

Al Jazeera reported that diplomats from the European Union countries backed out of the trip as they wanted to reach out to their contacts on ground and visit areas that weren’t in the Indian government-prepared itinerary which was organised by the Indian ministries of External Affairs, Home Affairs and Defence.

Similarly, diplomats from Australia and Gulf nations dropped out due to “scheduling” issues.

Domestically, the Modi government was criticised by opposition parties for not allowing local citizens, including top political parties to visit the occupied region.

US lawmakers demand transparency from India over IOK move

United States' stance

There have been multiple congressional hearings on the Kashmir conflict in the past six months.

In a hearing of the Pacific and Non-proliferation Sub-committee on "Human Rights in South Asia: view from the State Department and the Region" on Capitol Hill in Washington, Well said the Trump administration had urged "Indian authorities to respect human rights and restore full access to services, including internet and mobile networks".

Today, I appeared alongside @DRL_AS Robert Destro to discuss human rights issues in South and Central Asia with members of @HouseForeign. What follows are important components of my testimony. AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) October 22, 2019

In the same hearing, Congress members questioned the Indian narrative of imposing a curfew citing 'security' concerns. They also raised doubts over the Narendra Modi right-wing government's claim that revoking the occupied valley's autonomy was done in a bid to improve security and economic development.

The US lawmakers underscored that even during a war, no country had imposed a complete information and communication blackout as that imposed by the Indian government.

They also questioned why the Indian government was not being transparent about the matter.



The on-going clampdown in IOJ&K


The occupied Himalayan region has been under siege since August 5 when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government revoked special status granting autonomy to IOJ&K and bifurcated it.

The highly militarized zone was locked down with thousands of additional troops with the political leadership imprisoned and a communication lockdown imposed days prior to the final decision.

Although the Indian government eased some of the curbs yet thousands remain under arrest with mobile and internet connections suspended.

New Delhi argued it was a “preventive” measure to avoid unrest despite the United Nations’ 2016 declaration that internet is a human right.

According to Reuters, the clampdown has cost occupied Kashmir’s economy a loss of more than $2.4 billion as sectors directly dependent on the internet with commerce and information technology the worst hit.