Speaking to media representatives at a routine press briefing, the spokesperson said that the White House has been receiving reports of clashes between protesters and Indian forces in Kashmir.
“And we’re, of course, concerned by the violence, as you might expect we would be. We encourage all sides to make efforts to find a peaceful solution to this,” said Kirby.
While stating that the United States was in constant contact with the Indian government on the issue, he said, “I can tell you we are, as you would expect we would be, in close touch with our Indian counterparts there in New Delhi as this goes forward. But we’re obviously concerned by the violence and we want to see the tensions de-escalated.”
Must Read: Indian authorities re-impose curfew in Kashmir
Replying to a question that elaborated India has been involved in human rights violation not only in Kashmir but also in its own country where Muslims and other minority groups were being humiliated and tortured openly, Kirby maintained that protecting citizens is government’s job.
“W’re obviously concerned by reports of rising intolerance and violence. We just talked about violence a few seconds ago against minorities. As we do in countries facing such problems around the world, we urge the government to do everything in its power to protect citizens and to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Authorities on Friday re-imposed a curfew in the disputed valley of Kashmir to prevent a planned protest march to the main mosque called by Hurriyat leaders.
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Key Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik called for the march to the main Jamia Masjid before the Friday prayers and at other places in the Kashmir Valley after the weekly Muslim prayers.
Geelani and Mirwaiz Farooq were put under house arrest, and Malik was sent to a police lockup to prevent them from leading the protest.
Mirwaiz Farooq had condemned the use of excessive force by India to sabotage their march towards Kulgam and said, stopping them from paying tribute to the martyrs was an extreme form of oppression and barbarism.
The divided Kashmir witnessed clashes between Indian forces and protesters even as the curfew that was in place since July 9 violence, triggered by the killing of a pro-independence leader Burhan Wani a day before, was lifted on Thursday.
