WASHINGTON: India has categorically rejected what it said ‘any scope of third party mediation’ between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who arrived here from New York, said that his country’s stance had been very clear since 1947 on the Kashmir issue.
We (Pakistan and India) can discuss and address the Kashmir dispute bilaterally, Jaishankar said, according to Times of India.
Meanwhile, the military curfew and communication blackout has entered 58th day on Tuesday in the occupied Kashmir.
India has snapped television, telephone and internet links to deter protests over its scrapping of special constitutional status for the region.
In Srinagar, armed police were stationed every few hundred meters as a ban on gatherings of more than four people in public places continued since Aug 5. Educational institutions and most shops in residential neighborhoods were shut.
Shopkeepers said they were running out of stock after days of panic buying.
“No provisions are left in my shop, and no fresh supplies are coming,” said grocery store owner Jehangir Ahmad.
Last week, the chief justice of India had said that he would visit occupied Kashmir, if needed, to check allegations of illegal detention of children by Indian forces in the valley.
Ranjan Gogoi, the chief justice, made these remarks while hearing a petition filed by Enakshi Ganguly, a child rights expert, and Professor Shanta Sinha, the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Child Rights (NCPCR) against illegal detention of children by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir since Aug 5 lockdown.
The petition also stated that children and teens aged between six and 18 years were facing hardships due to military lockdown in the valley.
The counsel for the petitioners replied that it was difficult to approach the local High Court in the valley due to lockdown, when the chief justice instructed him to consult the concerned court.
On Sept 15, a petition against illegal detention of children by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir was filed in the Supreme Court.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by Enakshi Ganguly, a child rights expert, and Professor Shanta Sinha, the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Child Rights (NCPCR).
There are reports suggesting violations which include loss of life and freedom. These are very serious and demand judicial review of the ground situation regarding children, the petition says.
In the meantime, jails in the occupied Kashmir have ran out of capacity and now thousands of people detained without charges by Indian forces are being shifted via planes to other parts of the country.
Over 10,000 innocent people have been arrested by Indian forces over fears of unrest following the complete lockdown imposed in the valley on Aug 5.
India had abrogated Article 370 on August 5 withdrawing special status given to occupied Kashmir.
A local magistrate said last month that over 4,000 people had been arrested under the controversial Public Safety Act.
