Hope to engage with Trump on terror, Kashmir and Pak: HAF

An advocacy organisation for "Hindu-Americans" has said it hopes to engage with the administration of President-Elect Donald Trump on pressing issues such as Kashmir, terror fomented by radical Islam and America's ties with "nations that sponsor terrorism".

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) congratulated the 70-year-old Republican on being elected the 45th President of the United States and said it looks forward to working with his administration to address "issues that are of deep concern to many in the Hindu-American community".

"In carrying out our nation's foreign policy, of utmost concern to HAF continues to be: gross human rights violations borne by Hindus and other religious minorities around the world, especially in countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, where radical Islam is fomenting terror and violence, Pakistan's proxy war in Kashmir and violence against Hindu minorities in Kashmir, as well as bilateral ties of the United States with nations that sponsor terrorism," the group said in a statement issued here today.

The group said it looks forward to engaging the incoming Trump-Pence administration on various economic and security issues "to ensure a safe and prosperous future for all Americans".

Encouraged by Trump's call to "bind the wounds of division", HAF expressed hope this commitment would extend to issues like monitoring and combating hate crimes, comprehensive immigration reform with specific attention to religious worker visas, equitable H-1B policy, and accommodation for Hindu refugees fleeing persecution.

The group also lauded the success of "Hindu-American" lawmakers in the 2016 elections. Joining Democrat Tulsi Gabbard in the House of Representatives are first time winners Pramila Jayapal from Washington State, Ro Khanna from California and Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois.

Other Indian-Americans also made significant strides in state-level races, including Niraj Antani, a Republican from Ohio and Prasad Srinivasan from Connecticut along with Jay Chaudhuri of North Carolina and Ash Kalra of California, who were elected as first time winners in their respective state legislatures.