Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on the decision of the Government of India on 5 August 2019 to repeal Articles 370 and 35a of the Indian Constitution.

We are in regular contact with the Indian Government regarding the situation in Kashmir. Following the revocation of Articles 370 and 35a, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with his counterpart, Dr Jaishankar. Most recently,Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs and, separately, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK. We welcome reports that some restrictions have been relaxed, and that some of those previously detained have been released. However, we remain concerned at the ongoing detentions and continued restrictions in some areas and call for these to be lifted as soon as possible. We also welcome India’s commitment to economic and social development in India-administered Kashmir, and have asked the Indian Government for more detail on how their plans will be realised.