Washington: India’s communication blackout in Kashmir is having a “devastating impact” on the lives and welfare of the people there, a powerful US Congressional Committee has said, urging New Delhi to lift its more than two-month long restrictions in the Valley.
Strict restrictions were first imposed across Kashmir on August 5 when the government of India announced its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
“India’s communication blackout in Kashmir is having a devastating impact on the lives and welfare of everyday Kashmiris,” House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a tweet on Monday.
“Its time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris the same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen,” it said.
The House committee comes nearly a month after Indian-American lawmaker Pramila Jayapal, along with 13 other US Congressmen, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address concerns over the human rights situation in Kashmir and lift the communications blackout.
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, evoking sharp response from Islamabad.
Pakistan expelled the Indian High Commissioner soon after deciding to downgrade diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
Pakistan has been trying to raise the issue at various international fora, but India has categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation on Kashmir, saying it is a bilateral issue between the two countries, a position that has been backed by US President Donald Trump who had recently offered to mediate.
The Asia-Pacific and Non-Proliferation Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing on human rights in Kashmir and other parts of South Asia on October 22. PTI

Press Trust of India