WASHINGTON: According to Donald Lu, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, the US government recently pressured the Modi administration to reinstate local elections and democratic rights in every region of the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir by India.
Speaking with the British Broadcasting Corporation, Lu stated, “I want to stress that there has been no change in American policy on Kashmir” (BBC).
The US has raised human rights abuses in India, particularly in the illegally occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir, with New Delhi, he continued.
The assistant secretary claimed that only direct talks between India and Pakistan could resolve the Kashmir dispute.
He continued by saying that it was important to maintain media freedom in Kashmir. “All of this is essential for peace, and it is hoped that Kashmir will experience peace in the years to come.”
Furthermore, when questioned about the sale of F-16 fighter aeroplanes to Pakistan, Lu remarked that this operation involved the sale of military hardware rather than military aid.
In the interview, Lu stated that “if America sells military weapons
In response to a question about Imran Khan, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and a former prime minister, the US assistant secretary of state declined to comment, making it clear that he would not respond to any inquiries about the former cricketer-turned-politician.