Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the situation in Kashmir.

We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Governments of India and Pakistan. We are concerned by levels of firing across the line of control and urge both sides to exercise restraint and improve communication. In India-administered Kashmir, we welcome reports that some of the restrictions have been relaxed. However, we remain concerned at the continued restrictions on some mobile internet services and at ongoing detentions, including those of political leaders. We call for these to be lifted as soon as possible. It is important that individual rights are fully respected and that there is constructive dialogue with the affected communities. We have raised our concerns with the Indian Government.