Last week, St Albans MP Anne Main met with local Muslim leaders in St Albans to discuss the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Kashmir.
Kashmir hit the headlines across the world again in the last few weeks after the Indian government removed Article 370 of its constitution. The Article provided for a special status for the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the north of India.
Members of the St Albans Muslim community asked to meet with Mrs Main to discuss their grave concerns about this decision by Prime Minister Modi of India following the reports of civil unrest, military brutality and the revocation of civil rights in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the meeting, Mrs Main has written to the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab to call for action by the UK Government and to request Mr Raab meets with members of the group Anne met with to discuss this further.
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Main said;
“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Kashmir. It concerns me a lot that many of the reports we are hearing are so similar to that of the of the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh.
“This move has the potential to spark major geo-political tension in the region and we must do everything we can to ensure that doesn’t happen. The humanitarian impact of a clash between India and Pakistan over this decision could be unthinkable.
“I hope to be able to meet with the Foreign Secretary soon and I would urge the Government to take strong and decisive steps to ensure this matter can be resolved in a safe and moderate way that eases tensions and ensures humanitarian protection for the people living there.”
