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US voices ‘great concern’ over Kashmir situation; urges resolution of dispute
WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (APP): The United States Friday voiced its ‘great concern’ about the deteriorating situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, where security forces have killed more than 100 freedom-seeking people, most teenagers, since July.“We obviously have great concern about the situation in Kashmir,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters when asked about the grave violations of the human rights taking place in the wake of India’s clamped down on Kashmiri protests.It was the first the Obama administration spoke out on Kashmir where people have held mass demonstrations over the past four months to demand their UN-mandated right to self-determination. President Barack Obama is set to visit India early next month.Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi raised the issue vocally at high-level talks with the United States aimed at further strengthening the two nations’ relationship. Crowley, who was responding
to questions, said, “There is obviously too much tension and violence in Kashmir, which is why we continue to encourage both countries to resolve it through dialogue.”
“We talk both to our Pakistani friends and our Indian friends on this issue on a regular basis. We would like to see the situation in Kashmir resolved.” At the same time, the spokesman added: “The United States policy is clear: “We believe that this is ultimately an issue that has to be resolved between India and Pakistan.”
At one point, Crowley interrupted an Indian journalist who sought to give him a somewhat twisted background to the Kashmir conflict, saying, “Not to cut you off, but just to say that I understand the history lesson...” Before his election, Obama talked about US mediation in Kashmir so that Pakistan could focus on fighting the militants in the tribal areas.
His comments triggered a sharp reaction in India. FM Qureshi, speaking Friday next to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, at the concluding session of US-Pakistan strategic referred to those remarks by Obama and urged him to take up the Kashmir dispute when he visits New Delhi.
“His coming visit to the region is the time to begin to redeem the pledge that he made earlier,” he said. The foreign minister said that a resolution on Kashmir was vital for a ‘peaceful and stable South Asia.’ “The Kashmiri mothers are baffled at the deafening silence of the world leadership,” Qureshi said.
Courtesy www.app.com.pk