World worried' over restrictions in Kashmir Valley

New Delhi: Even though the world community has backed India on the issue of Kashmir and dismissed Pakistan’s plea for mediation saying that it is a bilateral matter between the two countries, there is a growing concern from international community with regard to prolonged security curbs in the state since August 5.

In a latest, the European Union (EU) has asked India to ensure rights and freedom for Jammu and Kashmir population.  During a meeting with India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy/vice-president of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, on Friday, stressed the importance of steps to restore the rights and freedoms of people in Kashmir.

Mr S. Jaishankar had “debriefed the high representative on the state of play and on the security situation,” a statement from EU said. “The high representative reaffirmed the EU’s support to a peaceful solution to the crisis in Kashmir through bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan. She also reiterated the call to avoid an escalation of tensions and stressed the importance of steps to restore the rights and freedoms of the population in Kashmir,” the EU statement added.

This comes a day after the United States expressed concerns over reports of detentions and continued restrictions in Kashmir Valley.

Such statements seem to have pushed the MEA on the defensive and in an unusual move its official spokesperson read out the entire list of government initiatives in J&K while underlining that situation is largely normal and restrictions only in few areas.

In his weekly media briefing the MEA spokesperson Mr Raveesh Kumar gave an elaborate statement on the “gradual but a positive improvement in ground situation” in Jammu-Kashmir. He listed out steps taken to ease curbs and end communication blockade saying these were only in limited areas.

He mentioned that 3000 primary and 1000 middle schools are functioning, banking and ATM facilities are normal, and rebutted reports about shortage of medicines in hospitals. He added that the landlines in Jammu and Ladakh have been operating and in the Valley it is being done in a phased manner. “Mobile phones have opened in 10 districts of Jammu, and entire revenue districts of Handwara, Kupwara.

In a bid to address the international community, Mr Kumar went on to add that 85 per cent of police stations have are no day-time restrictions and “not a single life has been lost and not a single live bullet has been fired”.

The spokesperson stressed that the government initiatives are being implemented for the overall development of the state and underscored J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik’s announcement about 50,000 government jobs for the local population.

“The administration is putting all resources to ensure that normalcy returns to state as soon as possible…Let us not compare the situation in J&K with other parts of the country. Even in situation which predates August 5 (when Article 370 was scrapped), things were not normal compared to other parts of the country. There is a commitment that lives should not be lost,” he added

Such a statement is unprecedented given the fact that MEA never comments on political issues or about affairs of other states. However, with the United Nations General Assembly coming up in September where both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan are going to speak, the Indian government seems to be under tremendous pressure to showcase to the world that all is well in J&K and nothing demands international attention.

On his part, Mr Jaishankar too has been trying to convince the international community that situation in J&K is not alarming while underlining government’s initiatives and roadmap to normalcy. Following his meeting with EU Commissioner Christos Stylianides on Friday, Mr Jaishankar tweeted saying: “A good meeting with EU Commissioner @StylianidesEU. Discussed our perspectives on Afghanistan and Iran. Spoke of our expectations for better governance and more development in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”