“EU delegations don’t want a guided tour of Kashmir. We want to meet people of Kashmir freely by our own choice,” a source said
New Delhi: On Thursday at the government’s invitation, countries from the European Union will not be part of the foreign delegates’ team visiting Jammu and Kashmir, even though the US envoy will be a part of the 16-member delegation. According to Diplomatic sources from Europe, the envoys do not want a “guided tour” of Jammu and Kashmir and would visit later and meet the people by choice.
Government sources confirm that envoys of the EU have welcomed the idea of a trip to Jammu and Kashmir, but many of them said it was short notice this time and they look forward to going on another date. The situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir has “very extend improved”, they added.
The European Union, member of Parliament had visited Jammu and Kashmir in October 2019 the government abrogated the special status of the state granted under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated it into two union territories. During the visit, the EU members checked the ground situation and they met locals and were briefed by security forces. That visit was under private capacity.
Now similar kind of schedule has been planned for the two-day tour that begins on Thursday, which would be attended by 16 delegations from the US, Latin America, and Africa. Some Diplomats from Australia and many Gulf countries, who were expected to go, have dropped out due to what they called “scheduling” reasons.
“EU delegations don’t want a guided tour of Kashmir. We want to meet people of Kashmir freely by our own choice,” a source said. The officials also said some of the delegations are also keen on meeting the three former chief ministers – Farooq and Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti – who has been in detention since the Central government announced the move on August 5.
The confinement of Kashmir’s political leaders and the ban on the internet, from five months, are among the restrictions that have raised concerns abroad. Many countries and the US House of Representatives have referred to the matter.
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