A 28-member delegation of the European Parliament is arriving in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday for an 'unofficial' one-day visit. The visit was organised by a European NGO.
This will be the first foreign delegation to visit Jammu and Kashmir after New Delhi withdrew the limited autonomy of the region on August 5 by scrapping provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution.
The delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Monday.
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"Prime Minister, while welcoming the delegation to India, expressed the hope that they have a fruitful visit to various parts of the country, including to Jammu and Kashmir. Their visit to Jammu and Kashmir should give the delegation a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; apart from giving them a clear view of the development and governance priorities of the region," a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau said.
The delegation will be briefed by the civil and police officials in Kashmir. The team will be given a presentation about the situation in the region after the revocation of Article 370, sources said.
The foreign team will also be briefed about Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the region and the neighbouring country's efforts to push infiltrators into the Valley.
The delegation will also meet a cross section of people and return to New Delhi the next day.
The visit assumes significance in view of the international criticism over communication blockade and suspension of internet in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5. Except internet, most restrictions have been lifted in the area.
Earlier, Modi told the delegation that close international cooperation is essential to fight terror and urgent action is needed against those supporting and sponsoring terrorism.
"Close international cooperation is essential to fight terrorism. Urgent action must be taken against all those who support or sponsor terrorism or support such activities and organisations or use terrorism as a state policy. There should be zero tolerance for terrorism," he told the MPs.
The EU delegation's visit comes close on the heels of a Congressional hearing on Kashmir in the US. The EU has urged Indian government to lift restrictions, resume internet and free politicians and individuals detained after August 5.
India hopes that the arrival of the delegation in Kashmir would help debunk the false propaganda by Pakistan that there is a humanitarian crisis in Kashmir.
With inputs from PTI