New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs recently invited foreign diplomats to visit Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since India scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August.
Two diplomatic sources have confirmed that MEA has formally invited missions of several countries to send their envoys for a proposed visit to the new Union Territory.
On August 5, the Indian government initiated the move to read down Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories. Since then, internet and mobile communications have still not been removed. Most of the political detainees, including three former chief ministers, still remain in custody.
Also read: On Day 156, Kashmir’s Journalists Urge Authorities to Lift Internet Ban
Controversially, the Indian government had facilitated the visit of around 27 Members of European Parliament in October. EU officials had, however, pointed out that the politicos, mostly from far right parties, had travelled in their private capacity.
While India’s power to read down Article 370 has not been questioned, except for Pakistan, India has faced criticism for the continuing restrictions in Kashmir from most of the western countries.
The proposal for MEA to take foreign envoys to Kashmir had been among the bouquet of options, but the situation had remained volatile.
Even now, the invitation to the foreign missions does not come with a fixed date. Sources said that foreign missions had still not given their response to the MEA.
The visit to Kashmir will be organised by the Indian Army.
Most western countries seem to have been invited to send their officials.
It is learnt that for the European missions, the EU delegation in India is coordinating the discussions on the modalities of the visit.