Tehran voices concern about situation in Kashmir

Tehran has expressed concerns about a security lockdown in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, urging New Delhi to bring the situation in the Muslim-majority Himalayan region back to normal, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

Mousavi urged Indian officials to take measures towards returning the situation in Kashmir to normal as soon as possible and make sure that people will be able to exercise their "natural and recognized rights," PressTV reported.

Recently, Indian authorities imposed security restrictions in Kashmir, fearing massive protests after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended the Himalayan region’s seven decades of autonomy.

Over the past few days, large parts of Kashmir have remained cut off from the rest of the world amid a communications blackout, with no regular Internet, mobile phone or fixed-line links working. Indian troops have also been patrolling the streets, where they have set up barbed wire barricades.

The security lockdown is expected to last at least through Thursday, which marks India’s independence day.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory.