he Hindu American Foundation last week, as part of the “Human Rights in South Asia” hearing, submitted written testimony to the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation.
Co-authored by HAF Managing Director Samir Kalra and Executive Director Suhag Shukla, the statement provides an up-to-date overview of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as well as the current situation in the newly created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh within India. The statement concludes with recommendations to the US government in its relations with Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, as well as recommendation to each of these governments.
“Human rights conditions for ethnic and religious minorities continue to rapidly deteriorate in Pakistan and Bangladesh. U.S. policy makers must more actively engage with the Governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh in safeguarding and promoting human rights, religious freedom, and secular democracy, while preventing the growth of religious extremism and militancy, and cross-border interference that is destabilizing the region,” said Kalra. “The U.S. government should also work closely with the Government of India to counter terrorism in the region and continue to engage India as it works to restore normalcy in the newly created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.”
