indica News Bureau-
In a move to dispel the criticism of the Indian government faced over internet-shut down and lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir from international media and politicians of different countries, foreign envoys from 17 countries, including United States have been flown to the newly formed union territories to assess the situation.
The Kashmir Valley has now entered its sixth month of complete lockdown and internet shutdown. The 17 nations – Brazil, Uzbekistan, Niger, Nigeria, Morroco, Togo, Bangladesh, Peru, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, South Korea, Vietnam and USA reached the newly formed Union Territories on January 9, reported India Today.
The Delhi-based envoys arrived in Srinagar by a special chartered flight at Srinagar’s technical airport where top officials from the newly carved out union territory received them. Later in the day they visited Jammu where they met Lt Governor G C Murmu as well as civil society members.
US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster along with envoys from 16 other countries arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. This is the first such visit by the foreign envoys. Brazil’s envoy André Aranha Correa do Lago was also scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir but had to cancel his tour due to other commitments.
However, envoy of the European Union decided to skip the visit after being denied permission to meet the local leaders and detained former chief ministers of J&K, Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. The EU countries have however conveyed that they would visit the Union Territory on a different date when they are allowed to meet the three former ministers, who are currently under detention.
