Shabana has written to constituents regarding her long-standing position on Kashmir.

Constituents have recently been in touch regarding Labour’s stance on Kashmir.

In her letter, Shabana highlights Sir Keir Starmer’s clarification on the issue, and restates her own full support for a lasting settlement of self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir.

You can read her letter in full below.

Letter to constituents

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding Indian Occupied Kashmir.

My views on this issue as a proud British Kashmiri are long-established. I continue to wholeheartedly support the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination, and I repeat calls for any decisions regarding the status of Kashmir to be made by the Kashmiri people rather than the Indian Government.

Previously, I have called out the actions of the Modi Government in suppressing the rights of people living in Kashmir and spoken in outrage at the Indian Government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and withdraw the autonomy of Kashmir. The removal of Kashmir’s special status by the Indian Government is provocative and risks further destabilising the region.

I continue to oppose the human rights violations by those acting on behalf of the Indian Government in the strongest terms. The international community has a moral responsibility to ensure the rights of the Kashmiri people are upheld – we must not look the other way.

My record speaks for itself. I have spoken out about the issue widely on television and radio news bulletins – repeating calls for freedom for Kashmir at every opportunity.

The Labour Party has a longstanding position supporting self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I appreciate that there has been concern from those in the UK and abroad about recent comments within Labour regarding this issue. I am pleased that in correspondence to the Muslim Council of Britain, Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer clarified that our position on Kashmir has not changed. I welcome Keir Starmer’s decision to continue to engage with the policy-making process of the Labour Party, with MPs and Labour Friends of Kashmir.

Rest assured, I will continue to work alongside Labour Friends of Kashmir to uphold Labour’s position on this issue, in line with my long-stated position and that of my constituents on the state of Kashmir. I will continue to support an open and constructive working relationship between my Party and organisations representing the interests of the Kashmiri people, encouraging policy-making that makes the case for a lasting settlement of self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir.

Yours sincerely,

Shabana Mahmood MP

Birmingham Ladywood