When President Trump met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, we heard much about the friendship between the American and Indian peoples. However, there was a deafening silence when it comes to a human rights crisis in Kashmir unfolding right before our eyes and that is unacceptable.
The Modi-Trump rally is happened at a moment when the state of Kashmir remains under lockdown. In early August, Modi’s government unilaterally revoked Kashmir’s longstanding autonomy, has cracked down on dissent, jailed political leaders and instituted a communications blackout.
The lockdown has also blocked Kashmiris’ access to basic medical care. In a letter in the British Medical Journal on Aug. 16, a group of doctors from across India asked their government to ease restrictions on communication and travel, saying they were “a blatant denial of the right to health care and the right to life” because they made it difficult for patients and staff to get to hospitals.
A recent Human Rights Watch report notes that, “From chemotherapy to dialysis, patients are struggling to access lifesaving treatment on time.” President Trump has voiced no criticism of these troubling moves. He should be demanding that these restrictions be lifted and communications be restored immediately.
To be clear, Pakistan has positive role in Kashmir. But I believe the U.S. president must speak clearly in support of international humanitarian law and in support of an UN-backed peaceful resolution between India and Pakistan that respects the will of the Kashmiri people. Unfortunately, Trump has chosen to abandon the United States’ global leadership role. He is remaining silent on the Kashmir crisis while planned to hold a public rally with India’s prime minister for his reelection as president of USA.
Trump’s silence in the face of India’s Kashmir crackdown is consistent with his broader failure to speak up for human rights across the world. It is no secret that I disagree with President Trump on virtually every major policy issue today. I believe that health care is a human right, and should be available to all regardless of income.
He wanted to throw 9 million off the health care they had. I believe that, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, the wealthy and large profitable corporations should begin paying their fair share of taxes. He provided huge tax breaks to billionaires like him.
President Trump has an apparent affection for authoritarian regimes; He is not promoting democracy and human rights. When a president stays silent in the face of religious persecution, repression and brutality, the dangerous message this sends to autocratic leaders around the world is:
“Go ahead, you can get away with it.” This is the message US president is sending to the India. Pakistan should take the notice of it and has to act in accordance with this behavior as ther is hope of any help from USA but American are going to help India in human rights violation and atrocities it is committed the people of Kashmir.