WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. are growing more and more concerned with the state of human rights in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the country’s Baluchistan province, State Department spokesman Mark C. Toner said Tuesday.
His comments came while responding to a question about Pakistan Army’s oppression in Pakistan-held Kashmir and Baluchistan during a press briefing. Toner further opined the U.S. has constantly urged Pakistan to work out differences in its region peacefully and through a political process.
“We’ve obviously — are always urging all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process,” he said.
Toner’s comments came just one day before the State Department announced U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will embark on an international trip to Dhaka and New Delhi. The trip, set to begin on Aug. 29, is taking place to highlight the longstanding and broad U.S.-Bangladesh relationship. Kerry will meet with government officials to discuss growing cooperation on global issues between the U.S. and India, a press release said.
Kerry’s trip will also seek to focus on strengthening the longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights between the two nations.
He will meet with senior Indian officials, being joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. The two will host meetings with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, along with members of the U.S. delegation and their Indian counterparts.