Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, who visited India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue earlier this month, praised India’s decision to roll back internet restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir, but sought the release of detained political leaders at the earliest possible.
“On Jammu and Kashmir, I was pleased to see some incremental steps, including the partial return of internet service in Kashmir,” Wells was quoted as saying by foreign media.
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“We also continue to urge the government to permit regular access by our diplomats, and to move swiftly to release those political leaders detained without charge,” Wells said, adding that the visit by foreign dignitaries to the Valley earlier this month was 'a useful step'.
"It's clear that India’s broadening strategic horizons over the past two decades have resulted in a shift away from a passive foreign policy to the one that advances Indian interests more vigorously," Wells told reporters during a press conference.
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“Whether it’s in our growing maritime and naval cooperation, the Quad, India’s Act East Policy, there’s virtually no daylight in our approaches to the Indo-Pacific,” she said.
Currently, there are over 20 leaders in detention in the valley. NC leaders and former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, along with PDP chief and another former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti continue to be under detention in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5.
Farooq Abdullah has been retained in his house on the Gupkar Road in Srinagar, which has been designated as a sub-jail. Omar Abdullah is detained in the Hari Niwas and Mehbooba Mufti at a government bungalow on the Maulana Residency road in Srinagar.