The US has said that it wants New Delhi to take rapid action on lifting restrictions imposed in Kashmir and releasing those detained since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.

US President Donald Trump met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral meeting Tuesday on the sidelines of the UNGA for 40 minutes, and a day earlier he met Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

The US President had also offered to help with “arbitration or mediation” in the Kashmir issue, an idea which India has rejected right from the beginning.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.

While Trump has forged a close bond with PM Modi, a senior official said that the United States had concerns over the clampdown in the region.

“We hope to see rapid action — the lifting of the restrictions and the release of those who have been detained,” Alice Wells, the top State Department official for South Asia, told reporters.

“The United States is concerned by widespread detentions, including those of politicians and business leaders, and the restrictions on the residents of Jammu and Kashmir,” Wells said.

“We look forward to the Indian government’s resumption of political engagement with local leaders and the scheduling of the promised elections at the earliest opportunity,” she said.

“The world would benefit from reduced tensions and increased dialogue between the two countries and, given these factors, the president is willing to mediate if asked by both parties,” she added.

At least 400 politicians, including former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah are under house arrest since August 5. The Government has defended the detentions of the leaders as a means to maintain law and order in the Valley.

Jammu and Kashmir was put under virtual curfew on 5 August when the Modi government scrapped the Article 370 and split the state into two union territories.

The Government has affirmed that restrictions in Kashmir are aimed at preventing Pakistan from creating trouble through proxies and terrorists.

Earlier this week, President Trump had discussed Kashmir with the leaders of both India and Pakistan and also urged them to “just work it out”. The US president had also “encouraged” Modi to improve relations with Islamabad and also “fulfil his promises” to better the lives of the Kashmiri people.

Both Modi and Khan are scheduled to address the UN General Assembly today. With Khan declaring his resolve to highlight Kashmir in his speech, India is gearing up to rebut him point by point.