- By Aziz Haniffa Oct 23, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senior Trump administration officials Oct. 22 were put through the wringer by U.S. lawmakers over the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, and interrogated as to why the U.S. was not using its leverage with India — its strategic partner — to alleviate the situation that has precipitated growing Congressional concern.
During a hearing on ‘Human Rights in South Asia,’ convened by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, which has jurisdiction over affairs pertaining to the subcontinent, virtually every lawmaker said that they had been contacted by their Kashmiri American constituents bemoaning the alleged draconian restrictions imposed in the Valley, including the communications blockade and urging them to put pressure on the administration to prevail on the Indian government to lift these stringent measures.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D.-Wash.), the first Indian-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, asked Alice G. Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, how the Indian government could reconcile its claim that revocation of special status for Jammu and Kashmir would lead to increased economic growth for the Kashmiri people, with the hundreds of detentions and arrests without any charge.”
“I will tell you, it seems very difficult to see this as an economic growth move, when top elected leaders, business leaders –in my case, the case of my constituent — a former head of the Chamber of Commerce—and other public figures remain in detention.”
Jayapal, who was extended the courtesy to participate in the hearing and ask questions even though she is not a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed out that “the Internet is still cut off and 80 percent of the people in the Kashmir valley who rely on pre-paid phones still cannot make calls.”
“I think you are hearing this from all of the members of the Committee – we are concerned about the urgency of the situation.”
Wells said that “We do raise the specific issues that you raised — the release of political detainees, the reestablishment of normal economic life, the roadmap towards meaningful political life, including restoration of a state assembly.”
She agreed that all of Jayapal’s concerns “are all valid observations and I think that the tool that we have is persuasion and hearings like this, which will contribute to a powerful U.S. message on the need to move toward restoration of normalcy faster.”
But Wells acknowledged that no diplomatic access has been allowed by the Indian government to U.S. officials to investigate the ground realities in Kashmir.
“Not since the change of status (on Aug. 5) since we haven’t had permission,” she said, and when Jayapal asked if “there is an attempt to say that given the United States’ special relationship with India that our government, our Ambassador must go and visit — how urgently are we pushing having people on the ground from the U.S.,” Wells said, “We are being very persistent in our request. Urgently and persistently.”
Jayapal also expressed concern over the religious intolerance in India and said while she was in India recently, “I raised this directly to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), and I asked him to speak out on these things, and I will tell you, I am disappointed that that has not happened and in fact, the government is linked to some of the incidents and events that are happening around the country.”
She recalled, “When I was home visiting my parents in August, I’ll tell you, I’ve not seen the level of fear amongst all religions, including (low-caste) Hindus (Dalits) and other religious minorities about what is happening in India.”
Jayapal said, “It pains me to say this but there are numerous reported incidents against lower caste Hindus against cow vigilantism, lynchings about purported beef that is being kept, when in fact it’s not even beef, and issues that are deeply concerning.”
She said the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) “specifically identified the RSS, the VHP, the Sangh Parivar as being responsible for this increased intolerance.”
Jayapal also said, “In addition, the Pew Research Center analyzed 198 countries around the world on religious freedom, and again, it pains me to say that India was ranked fourth worse for religious intolerance.”
“I don’t say that with any pleasure,” she added. “I have to tell you that religious tolerance in India has been a point of pride for me—somebody who was born there and was a citizen for 35 years. But, I am extremely troubled by what is happening.”
Jayapal reiterated that “There’s a tremendous amount of fear and people are afraid of even advocating, and news reporters have told me that their news stations are threatened, funding issues if they speak out and many of them are conforming.”
While acknowledging that “these are all anecdotal,” she argued, “but the reason I point to the USCIRF and the Pew Center analysis is those are not anecdotal—these are reporters that are conducted with tremendous credibility.”
Thus, she hoped “the United States would take very seriously,” these concerns.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, Jayapal said, “I recognize that the situation is complex. I recognize that Pakistan is not without responsibility in some of its actions.”
“But, however, India as the world’s largest democracy, is a critical ally for the United States — two democratic nations and a critical partner and I think our mutual commitment to human rights needs to be upheld,” he said.
Referring to a report about the detention of dozens of children in Kashmir, she asserted that such detention without charges is unacceptable.
And, on religious freedom in India, Jayapal said that she proposes to shortly introduce a bipartisan resolution in the Congress to ensure that religious tolerance in ensured in the country of her birth.
But Wells pushed back somewhat on Jayapal’s assertions of religious intolerance, arguing that “the diversity of India is breathtaking. As you know, better than I do, and the fact that you have the third largest Muslim population (in the world), that you have a diverse community of sects, that you have…India is the birthplace, whether it is Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism.”
“This diversity continues,” she declared.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, Wells acknowledged that “we share the concerns expressed by many members of Congress and their constituents about the manner in which Indian authorities have implemented that decision (revoking Article 370 of India’s Constitution, providing for special status for Kashmir).”
She said the Department of State “has raised its concerns with the Indian government of the continued detention of hundreds of local residents and political leaders, including three former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Wells said that the administration continues to urge “Indian leaders to restore full access to Internet and phone services and to hold promised assembly elections at the earliest opportunity.”
She also said that “the United States supports the rights of Kashmiris to peacefully protest but condemns the actions of those who seek to use violence and fear to undermine dialogue.”
Wells said, “We continue to impress upon Pakistan, the need to take action against groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, who seek to foment violence across the Line-of-Control.”
“In the 1972 Shimla Accord, India and Pakistan agreed to maintain direct bilateral dialogue, We encourage both countries to do so, to reduce tensions along the Line of Control, enabling people on both sides to live in peace and dignity.”
Wells said that “the United States regards the Line of Control as the de-facto line of separation between India and Pakistan and Kashmir, and as a result, we recognize the de-facto administration of both sides of the LOC.”
But she noted, “We don’t take a position on the type of administration that is employed by either India or Pakistan.”
In her prepared remarks, submitted to the Congressional Record, Wells said, “Incidents of violence and discrimination against minorities in India, including cow vigilante attacks against members of the Dalit and Muslim communities, and the existence of anti-conversion laws in nine states are not in keeping with India’s legal protections for minorities.”
Thus, she said the U.S. calls on the Government of India to “fully” uphold the “universal right to religious freedom and protect vulnerable individuals, including the 1.9 million people in Assam at risk for statelessness because of questions about their citizenship; condemn all incidents of violence; and hold perpetrators accountable.”