Alice Wells denies India consulting US on Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD: The United States diplomat Alice Wells has rejected reports of India consulting the US before moving to end occupied Kashmir’s special constitutional status. 

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells said on Twitter:

Contrary to press reporting, the Indian government did not consult or inform the US Government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status. – AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) August 7, 2019

On Monday, the Indian government revoked the special status for the occupied territory. It revoked Article 370 of India’s constitution that provided special rights to the Muslim-majority state.

Earlier today, US-based journalists urged India to ensure access to the internet in occupied Kashmir, which has been suspended since Sunday.

Alice Wells has arrived in Islamabad on a five-day visit to hold delegation-level talks with Pakistan.