Angela Merkel says current situation in IoK isn’t good

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called out India on the on-going situation in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK), saying that the current situation in Kashmir is not good and is unsustainable, Indian publication The Hindu reported on Friday.

The German leader, while voicing concern for the people of IoK, said that the lockdown of the disputed region cannot be supported for long.

Her comments came hours after New Delhi and Berlin agreed to work on bilateral and multilateral platforms on counter-terrorism and extremism.

“The situation now for the people [in Kashmir] is not good and not sustainable. This has to be improved for sure,” said Merkel to a group of German journalists who travelled to New Delhi for the visit.

Indian officials say that the developments in IoK is not on the agenda of her visit. However, the publication reported that officials have said that the German leader was briefed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his plans regarding IoK during a formal dinner.

Merkel is on a three-day visit and has sealed 17 MoUs and five Joint Declarations of Intent covering a wide range of issues including agriculture, education, marine science and heritage conservation.

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