What to expect as Kashmir leaders meet India’s Modi in New Delhi

Politicians from disputed region set to meet Narendra Modi for the first time since it lost its special status in 2019.

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – Top pro-India politicians from Indian-administered Kashmir are set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time after the special status of the disputed region was scrapped two years ago. The talks are being seen as a departure from Modi’s tough stance in the region following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019, followed by a long and crippling military and communications lockdown to stifle any opposition to the government’s controversial move. The two constitutional provisions gave the Muslim-majority region a degree of autonomy. But the removal of its special status saw the region being divided into two federally administered territories.