Article 370: U.S. Urges All Stakeholders To Maintain Peace, Stability Along LoC
The U.S. says it is closely observing the events in Jammu and Kashmir after India scrapped Article 370 in the state.
The United States is “closely” observing the events in Jammu and Kashmir after India scrapped Article 370 in the state, and urged all stakeholders to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control with Pakistan.
On Monday, the Narendra Modi government revoked for Jammu and Kashmir Article 370, which grants administrative autonomy to the state. Rajya Sabha has approved a resolution moved by Home Minister Amit Shah abrogating Article 370 and the J&K Reorganisation Bill, 2019, to split the state into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
"We call on all parties to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control,” U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said, without naming Pakistan.
Pakistan has condemned and rejected India's move and vowed to exercise "all possible options" to counter the scrapping of Article 370, which it called India's "illegal" and "unilateral" step.
"We are closely following the events in Jammu and Kashmir. We take note of India's announcement revising the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and India's plan to split the state into two union territories," Ortagus said.
On Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs briefed the envoys of the P5 nations—the U.S., the U.K., China, France and Russia—about the government's decision to scrap Article 370 and split Jammu and Kashmir and into two union territories.
Ortagus noted that India has described the actions in J&K as "strictly an internal matter". She, however, expressed concern about alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We are concerned about reports of detentions and urge respect for individual rights and discussion with the affected communities," Ortagus said.
Earlier, on Aug. 2, U.S. President Donald Trump said it was up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute but he was ready to assist if the two South Asian neighbours wanted him to help in resolving the decades-old issue.
Trump was referring to his last week's meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, wherein he offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue. India has rejected the offer, while Pakistan has welcomed his statement.