The Trump administration has said while it supports India'sdevelopment agenda behind the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special statusunder Article 370, it was concerned over the current situation in the Valley.Itsaid it was closely monitoring the situation in the state following India'sAugust 5 decision.

The Indian government has argued that its decision onArticle 370 was driven by a desire to increase economic development, reducecorruption and uniformly apply all national laws in Jammu and Kashmir, particularlyin regard to women and minorities, Acting Assistant Secretary of State forSouth and Central Asia Alice G Wells told Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific,and Nonproliferation of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee."While wesupport these objectives, the US State Department remains concerned about thesituation in the Kashmir Valley, where daily life for the nearly eight millionresidents has been severely impacted since August 5," Wells said in aprepared statement submitted to the Congressional subcommittee on the eve ofthe hearing "Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Departmentand the Region".The US State Department, she said, has closely monitoredthe situation in Jammu and Kashmir following India's August 5 decision to abrogateArticle 370 provisions of the Constitution and bifurcate the state into twoUnion Territories.

"While conditions in Jammu and Ladakh have improved,the Valley has not returned to normal," Wells said on Monday, adding theState Department has raised concerns with the Indian government regarding thedetentions of local residents and political leaders, including three formerchief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir. "We have urged Indian authorities torespect human rights and restore full access to services, including internetand mobile networks," she said.Postpaid mobile service has been restoredin the valley, but internet access remains intermittent, Wells said.

She said both foreign and local journalists have extensivelycovered developments in Kashmir, but many have faced challenges in access andreporting due to security restrictions.

"While exact figures are difficult to ascertain, weunderstand several thousand people have been detained over the past two months,although many have subsequently been released," the top US diplomat said.Accordingto government sources, hundreds remain in detention - many without charges -under the Public Safety Act, which allows for administrative detention of up totwo years, Wells said.Welcoming actions by the Indian government to improve thesituation and address local grievances, she said the Indian Home Ministryrecently said the statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir following aperiod as a Union Territory, reaffirming what Prime Minister Narendra Modiannounced in his August 15 Independence Day speech.

The US, she said, also encourages the Indian government tofollow through on its commitment to hold assembly elections in the state at theearliest opportunity.Some local political leaders were released earlier thismonth, a trend Wells said she hopes will continue.

Government offices, primary schools, and colleges are open,although student attendance remains low, she said.The Indian Supreme Court,Wells said, is planning to hear petitions related to Kashmir on November 14 andthe Jammu and Kashmir High Court is reviewing habeas corpus cases.

"While these steps are positive, they are incremental,and we continue to press India to restore everyday services, including SMS andinternet communications, as swiftly as possible," she said.