A second batch of 25 foreign envoys arrived here on Wednesday as part of a Union Government-facilitated trip to help them have a first-hand assessment of the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, a region which faced months of harsh restrictions after its special status was stripped of in August.
The envoys arrived at the Srinagar airport around 11 am but could not go ahead with their scheduled visit to Baramulla in north Kashmir due to inclement weather, officials said.
The foreign dignitaries instead went for a Shikara (boat) ride in the famous Dal Lake.
The Government had taken a group of 15 envoys to Jammu & Kashmir last month with an aim to make them see the efforts to bring back normalcy in Kashmir Valley. A number of Opposition parties called it a ‘guided tour’.
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the group would meet representatives of the civil society, including youths, political leaders, local businessmen during their visit to the union territory.
After announcing reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and withdrawal of its special powers, India imposed severe curbs including on movement of people as well as on mobile telephone and internet connectivity. The crackdown drew international criticism with several countries expressing concerns over the situation in Kashmir.
“As a part of the outreach efforts, visit of a second group of foreign heads of mission is being organised to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on February 12-13,” the MEA said.