‘Remaining Restriction Should be Lifted Swiftly,’ Says EU After Envoys Visit to Kashmir

“While we recognise the serious security concerns, it is important that the remaining restrictions be lifted swiftly,” said Virginie Battu-Henriksson, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

New Delhi: Following the visit by a group of foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir, the European Union (EU) on Friday acknowledged that the Indian government has taken steps to restore normalcy in the Union Territory which is still battling with the lockdown. Recognising security-related concerns, the EU maintained that that remaining restriction should be lifted swiftly.

“The visit confirmed that the Government of India has taken positive steps to restore normalcy. Some restrictions remain, notably on internet access and mobile services, and some political leaders are still in detention,” a statement by the European Union read.

“While we recognise the serious security concerns, it is important that the remaining restrictions be lifted swiftly,” said Virginie Battu-Henriksson, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Notably, on February 12, the second batch of foreign envoys arrived in Srinagar for a two-day visit to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Their visit to the Valley came almost a month after another batch of foreign envoys visited Kashmir.

The batch had 25 foreign envoys, including those from Germany, Canada, France, New Zealand, Mexico, Italy, Afghanistan, Austria, Uzbekistan and Poland. Envoys of the European Union (EU), too, were members of this delegation.

The visit was organised by the Centre to demonstrate measures taken by it to restore normalcy in the region post abrogation of Article 370 in August last year.

Prior to this, a delegation of 23 EU MPs was taken on a two-day visit to the valley to assess the security situation by the International Institute for Nonaligned Studies.