The US State Department has said that America is “closelyfollowing the events in the state of Jammu and Kashmir”. The US has, however,noted that India “describes these actions as strictly an internal matter”. Thestatement by US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus further said thatthe US is “concerned about reports of detentions”.

“We are closely following the events in the state of Jammuand Kashmir. We take note of India’s announcement revising the constitutionalstatus of Jammu and Kashmir and India’s plan to split the state into two unionterritories,” said the statement released by Morgan.

She further said, “We are concerned about reports ofdetentions and urge respect for individual rights and discussion with those inaffected communities.”

In a message to Pakistan, the US State Department has alsoasked “all parties to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control”.Thiscame even as Pakistan continued to cry foul over Prime Minister NarendraModi-led NDA government’s announcement on abrogation of Article 370, whichprovided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.Islamabad had even summoned IndianHigh Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and registered a strong protest over thedevelopment. The neighbour has termed the announcement as “illegal”, demandingan assessment of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir by the UnitedNations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has, however, asserted thatArticle 370’s abrogation was essential as it did not allow democracy in Jammuand Kashmir. He described Article 370 as “the root of terror” in the region.Backing him, Prime Minister Modi said that Shah “accurately highlighted themonumental injustices of the past”.The government has maintained that scrappingArticle 370 is essential for complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir intoIndia in the real sense.

As part of precautionary measures ahead of the announcement,the government had moved scores of paramilitary personnel to the state fromdifferent parts of the country. The Amarnath Yatra was also called off, with anadvisory asking all pilgrims and tourists to leave the state at the earliest.

To maintain law and order situation, former chief ministersOmar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were put under preventive detention. An orderissued by the Executive Magistrate in Srinagar to Mufti read that ‘there arestrong apprehensions of law and order situation and breach of peace andtranquillity in Kashmir.’ “Your activities are likely to cause breach of peace,keeping into consideration your recent activities that may likely lead toserious law and order situation and breach of peace.”