A batch of foreign envoys from Europe and Africa started a two-day visit to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The visit helmed by the ministry of external affairs includes a group of ambassadors and senior diplomats, mainly from European countries, to the Kashmir Valley and Jammu. This is the third such visit conducted by India for foreign envoys and the international community to assess the ground situation following the revocation of the region`s special status in 2019. The envoys will meet top officials and politicians of the region to witness the Modi government`s efforts to restore normalcy in the Valley after it revoked the erstwhile state`s special status and split it into two Union territories. The envoys are expected to be in the Kashmir Valley on February 17, before traveling to Jammu on February 18. The group of about 20 envoys and senior diplomats are expected to visit Hazratbal shrine, Dal Lake, and a college in Badgam on the outskirts of Srinagar. Akin to the previous visits, the third batch is expected to interact with grassroots political leaders, members of civil society groups and businessmen to assess the ground situation. India had previously taken two batches of foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir in January and February 2020 but the initiative by the government was halted due to the Coronavirus outbreak globally and the subsequent travel restrictions. The visit comes less than two weeks after the government restored 4G mobile internet services in the Union territory. The services were snapped and other restrictions were imposed when the government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir`s special status in August 2019.
A batch of foreign envoys from Europe and Africa started a two-day visit to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The visit helmed by the ministry of external affairs includes a group of ambassadors and senior diplomats, mainly from European countries, to the Kashmir Valley and Jammu. This is the third such visit conducted by India for foreign envoys and the international community to assess the ground situation following the revocation of the region`s special status in 2019. The envoys will meet top officials and politicians of the region to witness the Modi government`s efforts to restore normalcy in the Valley after it revoked the erstwhile state`s special status and split it into two Union territories. The envoys are expected to be in the Kashmir Valley on February 17, before traveling to Jammu on February 18. The group of about 20 envoys and senior diplomats are expected to visit Hazratbal shrine, Dal Lake, and a college in Badgam on the outskirts of Srinagar. Akin to the previous visits, the third batch is expected to interact with grassroots political leaders, members of civil society groups and businessmen to assess the ground situation. India had previously taken two batches of foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir in January and February 2020 but the initiative by the government was halted due to the Coronavirus outbreak globally and the subsequent travel restrictions. The visit comes less than two weeks after the government restored 4G mobile internet services in the Union territory. The services were snapped and other restrictions were imposed when the government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir`s special status in August 2019.
