Pakistani troops shell forward areas along LoC; internet restored in valley

Pakistan has violated the ceasefire over 800 times this year

Pakistani troops opened fire and lobbed mortar shells at forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch districts on Monday in violation of a ceasefire agreement, PTI reported. “At about 0330 hours today, Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing of small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Krishnagati Sector in Poonch district,” a defense spokesman said.The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he said. Exchange of fire was going on when last reports came in from the area, the spokesman said.

“Again at about 0530 hours Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector, district Rajouri,” he said. Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire agreement three to four times a day in the past fortnight, officials said. Pakistan has violated the ceasefire over 800 times this year.

ALSO READ: Delhi Police on high alert after intelligence inputs about terror attack

Meanwhile, Mobile Internet was restored in Srinagar district late on Sunday night, 17 hours after it was snapped in view of an encounter between militants and security forces, officials said.The Internet on mobile devices was restored at 11 pm on Sunday, the officials said. It was snapped in the district at 6 am after the encounter broke out in the Zoonimar area of the city. Three militants were killed in the encounter.

Delhi Police on high alert after intelligence inputs about terror attack

Intelligence agencies have alerted police on the possibility of four to five men entering the national capital with an intention to carry out a terror attack

The Delhi Police has been put on high alert following intelligence inputs about a probable terror threat in the national capital, PTI reported. Intelligence agencies have alerted police on the possibility of four to five men entering the national capital with an intention to carry out a terror attack. The sources, as reported by PTI, said all the 15 police districts have been put on high alert along with elite units of the Crime Branch and the Special Cell. Special vigil is being maintained on Delhi’s borders and a close watch is being kept in market areas and hospitals, which are seeing a large influx of patients these days, they said. Security agencies are on heightened vigil in view of the India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Four terrorists including a Pakistani national were killed in two separate encounters at Srinagar and Kulgam during past 24 hours, Kashmir Police said. On a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of terrorists in Zadibal area of district Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and CRPF in the area.

“During the search operation, the hiding terrorists were repeatedly appealed to surrender through family members & community members of the area but instead they started firing indiscriminately upon search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” an official release by Kashmir Police said…Read Full Source

Pak raises Kashmir issue at Saarc Covid-19 line; 'churlish', says India

PM proposed the creation of an emergency fund to combat the pandemic and pitched India’s initial offer of $10 million

It was “churlish” of Pakistan to politicise a humanitarian issue by raking up the Kashmir matter at a video conference between SAARC leaders held with an aim to chalk out a joint strategy to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Indian government sources said on Sunday. “Pakistan sent their Health Minister who was uncomfortable in speaking. He was given a slip. It’s a churlish approach. This is a humanitarian issue and Pakistan tried to politicise the humanitarian issue,” the government sources said.

They criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s absence from the conference, noting that the initiative witnessed the participation of leaders of all SAARC nations including Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who was discharged from the hospital on Saturday after undergoing a kidney transplant. “Even Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli participated a day after he was discharged from the hospital. Each leader participated from the SAARC except Pakistani PM Imran Khan,” sources said.

The Pakistani side was represented by Zafar Mirza, State Minister for Health, who in his address at the conference, said that it was imperative that the lockdown in Kashmir be lifted in view of the health emergency after the coronavirus outbreak. “It is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir. In view of the health emergency, it is imperative that all lockdown in the territory must be lifted immediately,” Mirza said at the conference. “Opening up communications and movement will facilitate the dissemination of information, allow distribution of medical supplies, and enable containment and relief efforts to proceed unimpeded,” he added. Restrictions have been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir following the Indian government’s move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to the region.

R K Mathur sworn-in as the first Lt Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh

The oath of office was administered by chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court Geeta Mittal at a simple function held at Leh.

Former defence secretary R K Mathur was on Thursday sworn-in as the first Lt Governor of strategically located Union Territory of Ladakh, which came into existence after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mathur, who will be turning 66 later this month, was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Gita Mittal at a function held at Sindhu Sanskriti auditorium at Tisuru. The warrant of appointment was read by a senior official at the function after which the oath ceremony took place.

Mathur, an IAS officer of 1977 batch from Tripura, later inspected a guard of honour of local police. A post graduate in Industrial Engineering from IIT, R.K Mathur retired as Defence Secretary in 2015 and was appointed as Chief Information Commissioner in December the same year. He completed his tenure in November last year after attaining the age of 65 years. Ahead of the swearing-in, the Union Home Ministry revoked notification of December last year of imposition of President’s rule in the undivided Jammu and Kashmir.

The Centre on Wednesday night appointed Umang Narula, an IAS officer of 1989 batch, as advisor to Mathur besides posting S S Khandare, an IPS officer of 1995 batch, as ‘Head of Police’ in Ladakh. With a population of nearly three lakh, Ladakh is strategically located as it shares borders with Pakistan as well as China.

India has opportunity to gain from US-China trade war: Wilbur Ross at WEFIndia has opportunity to gain from US-China trade war: Wilbur Ross at WEF

US will highlight how India can step into the breach in Beijing’s exports to Washington, Ross said

India has an opportunity to take advantage of the trade tension between the US and China, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said on Thursday at a World Economic Forum (WEF) event, even as the two sides are looking to sign a deal “quickly”.

The US will highlight how India can step into the breach in Beijing’s exports to Washington, Ross said at the session “Trading Against the Tide”, attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

“India has a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of trade dissension elsewhere. In our one-on-one meeting with Goyal, we prepared a chart about the areas where China is a big exporter to us compared to what India is exporting to us, the possible solutions, and how we change that mixture,” said Ross at the India Economic Summit, organised by the WEF and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

In an interview to Reuters on the sidelines of the event earlier, Ross said the US was looking to level the playing field. “The US is the least protectionist country of the major powers. India is, if not the most protectionist, certainly one of the most protectionist.”

Read More: India US Trade Talk

It is a ‘jihad’: Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Kashmir after returning from US

Khan on Friday raised the Kashmir issue in his address to the UNGA and demanded that India must lift the ‘inhuman curfew’ in Kashmir and release all ‘political prisoners’

Prime Minister Imran Khan on his return from the US on Sunday said that those standing by Kashmiris were doing “jihad” and Pakistan will support Kashmiris even if the world does not.

Prime Minister Khan, who focussed on the Kashmir issue in his maiden address to the UN General Assembly, told his party workers at the airport in Islamabad that “whether the world is with the Kashmiris or not, we are standing with them.” “It (standing by Kashmiris) is jihad. We are doing it because we want Allah to be happy with us,” he said.

“It is a struggle and do not lose heart when the time is not good. Do not be disappointed as the Kashmiris are looking towards you,” he said. He said “Kashmiris would win if the Pakistani people stood by their side”. Khan on Friday raised the Jammu and Kashmir issue in his address to the UNGA and demanded that India must lift the “inhuman curfew” in Kashmir and release all “political prisoners”.

In his speech that went on for about 50 minutes, far exceeding the 15-minute limit for UN speeches during the General Debate, Khan devoted half of his address to the Kashmir issue, warning that if there’s face-off between two nuclear-armed neighbours, the consequences would be far beyond their borders.

His war rhetoric was in sharp contrast to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s peace message from the same podium few minutes earlier in which he said India is a country, that has “given the world, not war, but Buddha’s message of peace.” Pakistan has….

India expects to gain control over Pak occupied Kashmir one day: Jaishankar

No need to “worry” beyond a point about what people will say on Kashmir, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

It was a day of contrasting, even disputed, narratives on Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a public rally in Gujarat’s Kevadiya, Prime Minister Narenda Modi said the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel inspired his government’s recent decisions on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

In the national capital, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of India and New Delhi expects to have physical jurisdiction over it one day. In response to Pakistan’s attempts at trying to internationalise the issue, the minister said there was no need to “worry” beyond a point about what people will say on Kashmir.

However, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, a four-time legislator of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir assembly, disagreed with the government’s claims that normalcy had returned to Kashmir. Tarigami is the first politician of a mainstream political party in Kashmir to visit Delhi since the Centre imposed restrictions in the region in the first week of August. The Supreme Court had allowed him to travel to Delhi for medical treatment.

“Where is the normalcy? The clampdown is now 40-days old. Schools have remained shut, so have the shops. Internet is blocked, telephones still not functional. The government says not one person has died. Yes, true but nobody dies in a jail. We are dying slowly every day. We are feeling suffocated,” he said..

Trump to meet Modi, Imran soon; says progress made in reducing tensions

According to Trump’s schedule, he could meet the Pakistani Prime Minister on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York later this month

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he will be meeting the prime ministers of India and Pakistan soon, even as he maintained that tension between the two Asian countries had reduced. While Trump will address Indian-Americans, along with PM Modi, at the “Howdy Modi!” event in Houston on September 22, the American president did not say when or where will he be meeting PM Khan.

“I’ll see Prime Minister Modi and I will — we’ll — be meeting with (prime ministers of) India and Pakistan,” Donald Trump told reporters in response to a question at the White House on Monday. According to Trump’s schedule, he could meet the Pakistani Prime Minister on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York later this month.

After addressing a record crowd of more than 50,000 Indian-Americans at the “Howdy Modi!” event , Trump will travel to Ohio and then is expected to fly to New York to attend the Annual General Assembly Sessions of the United Nations. Without mentioning Kashmir, Trump said a “lot of progress has been made in reducing tension” between India and Pakistan. Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5. Reacting to India’s move on Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.

Kashmir tensions won’t affect TAPI gas project, Pak assures Turkmenistan

Some Pakistani experts raised doubts about the future of the the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India and other offshore gas pipeline projects following tensions between India and Pakistan

Current Affairs: Pakistan has assured Turkmenistan that rising tensions with India will have no effect on TAPI gas pipeline project, a media report said on Sunday after doubts were raised over the future of the $10 billion trans-national project in the wake of fresh tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over Kashmir.

Some Pakistani experts raised doubts about the future of the the  (TAPI) and other offshore gas pipeline projects following tensions between India and Pakistan after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

“However, Pakistan has assured Turkmenistan that rising tensions with India will have no effect on the mega project, a government official was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India(TAPI) pipeline project seeks to build connectivity in the South and Central Asian regions through gas pipelines and will help ease energy shortages in South Asia.

The TAPI will pass through war-torn Afghanistan and Pakistan to India to boost economic activity and to ensure peace and stability in the region. This project would also help connect two regions through road, rail and fiber cable network…

Kashmir: A month later, shopkeepers refuse to open, even as curbs are eased

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked special rights for Jammu and Kashmir on Aug 5, striking down the long-standing constitutional provisions for the Himalayan region

A month after the government withdrew Article 370 and locked Kashmir down with thousands of additional troops and made mass arrests, residents are resisting attempts by authorities to show some signs of normalcy returning in the valley.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked special rights for Jammu and Kashmir on Aug 5, striking down the long-standing constitutional provisions for the Himalayan region.

To dampen the possibility of widespread protests, India flooded the state — already one of the world’s most militarised zones — with troops, imposed severe restrictions on movements, and cut all telephone, mobile phone and internet connections. Thousands of people were arrested.

The Centre has since eased some of the curbs, although no prominent detainees have been freed and mobile and internet connections remain suspended. Officials in Srinagar say that 90 per cent of the Kashmir valley is free of restrictions on daytime movement, some landline phone connections have been restored and thousands of schools have re-opened. However, checkpoints remain in place and communication restrictions make reporting from the region difficult….

Kashmir internal issue for India, Imran Khan’s rhetoric absurd: US lawmaker

The US lawmaker has also said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric

Asserting that Kashmir is an internal issue for India, Indian-American lawmaker Ro Khanna who recently joined the Pakistani Congressional Caucus has said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric.

“Kashmir is an internal matter for India’s democracy and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric and not escalate to a war or conflict,” Congressman Khanna told members of the Indian-American community during an interaction in Freemont, California recently.

“Imran Khan’s rhetoric of war with India is absolutely ridiculous,” Khanna, the two-term Democratic Congressman representing Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives, was quoted as saying by local India Post in its latest weekly edition. During the interaction, the Kashmiri-American community appreciated his support in democratic resolution of the conflict and upliftment of communities from poverty and terror.

Meanwhile, in a tweet earlier this week, Congresswoman Ilhan Abdullahi Omar expressed her concerns over alleged human rights violations in the Kashmir Valley. She urged for an immediate restoration of communication, respect for human rights, democratic norms, and religious freedom and de-escalation…

SC refers all petitions on Article 370 to 5-judge Constitution Bench

SC also issued notice to the Centre on plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor seeking a direction for relaxing restrictions on internet, landline, and other communication channels

Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday referred all petitions challenging the scrapping of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, to a five-judge Constitution Bench. The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and others and said that the five-judge Constitution Bench would hear all the petitions related to abrogation of Article 370 in the first week of October.

The apex court also issued a notice to the Centre on the plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor, Anuradha Bhasin, seeking a direction for relaxing restrictions on internet, landline, and other communication channels. The SC sought a detailed response from the Centre within 7 days.

Further, the Supreme Court refused a request from the Centre to appoint an interlocutor for Jammu & Kashmir. In another development, the Supreme Court also allowed CPM leader Sitaram Yechury to visit J&K and meet his party leader and former MLA, Yousuf Tarigami.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, “We will permit you to go, you are the general secretary of a party. Don’t go for anything else.” The apex court also said that Yechury’s visit should only be to meet Tarigami as a friend, and not for any political purpose….

Imran Khan considering closing Pakistan airspace to India: Minister

Pakistan closed its airspace on February 26 after Indian fighter jets struck an alleged terrorist training camp in Balakot.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is considering a complete closure of airspace to India and blocking Indian land trade to Afghanistan via Pakistan, Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Twitter.

#Modi has started we’ll finish!,” wrote Chaudhry, who handles the Science and Technology Ministry.

“PM is considering a complete closure of Air Space to India, a complete ban on use of Pakistan Land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan was also suggested in cabinet meeting, legal formalities for these decisions are under consideration,” he wrote.

Pakistan closed its airspace on February 26 after Indian fighter jets struck an alleged terrorist training camp in Balakot in retaliation for an attack on paramilitary soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama. The airspace was reopened for civilian flights on July 16.

Air India, the country’s flag carrier, operates around 50 flights daily through Pakistani airspace. Prime Minister Khan said on Monday he will protest India’s decision to end Kashmir’s autonomy at international forum, including at the UN General Assembly next month.

Trump rakes up Kashmir again, says ready to assist if India, Pak want

In his meeting with Pakistan PM Imran Khan last week, Trump had offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said it was up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute but he was ready to assist if the two South Asian neighbours wanted him to help in resolving the decades-old issue.

Trump was referring to his last week’s meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, wherein he offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue. India has rejected the offer, while Pakistan has welcomed his statement.

“It’s really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi (to accept the offer of mediation),” Trump told reporters responding to a question on India not accepting his offer of mediation on Kashmir. “Have they accepted the offer or not?”, Trump sought a clarification when asked about India’s rejection of his mediation offer.

“I think they are fantastic people Khan and Modi — I mean. I would imagine they could get along very well, but if they wanted somebody to intervene, to help them. and I spoke with Pakistan about that and I spoke frankly in (sic) India about it,” Trump said. He rued that the issue of Kashmir had been going on for a long time. When asked how would he “want to resolve the Kashmir issue”, Trump said, “If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene.”

Read More: India Pakistan Ties

Islamabad condemns Pulwama attack, rejects charge that Pakistan is involved

At least 37 CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir

Current affairs: Pakistan has condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district and said it is a matter of grave concern even as it rejected India pointing out Islamabad’s link to the incident without investigations. At least 37 CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office, after keeping quiet for hours, issued a statement after midnight. The attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir “is a matter of grave concern,” it said. “We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in the Valley,” the FO said. Pakistan also rejected that it was in any way involved in the attack. “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations,” the FO added.

Also Read: Pulwama: Amit Shah urges rivals to rise above politics on national security

India on Thursday slammed Pakistan over the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and asked the neighbouring country to stop supporting terrorists and dismantle terror infrastructure operating from its soil.

India also strongly reiterated its appeal to all members of the international community to support the proposal to list terrorists, including JeM chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan. The White House asked Pakistan to immediately end “support” and “safe haven” to all terror groups as it strongly condemned the Pulwama terrorist attack…

Click Here: Pulwama Terror Attack

Pak shelling kills BSF jawan along border, injures 6 ahead PM Modi's visit

The slain jawan was identified as 28-year-old constable Sitaram Upadhyaya of 192 Battalion

A BSF jawan was killed while six persons, including a BSF officer, were injured as Pakistan Rangers heavily shelled villages and Border out Posts (BoPs) in Jammu early on Friday, a senior officer said.

This is third day of shelling and firing by Pakistan troops along the IB in Jammu frontier and comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Pakistan Rangers increased the arch of mortar shelling to R S Pura, Bishnah and Arnia sectors of Jammu by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing since 0100 hours in these sectors, a senior BSF officer told PTI.

BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated and exchanges are going on when reports last came in from the area, he said.

The slain jawan was identified as 28-year-old constable Sitaram Upadhyaya of 192 Battalion. He was critically injured at Jabowal BoP around 0130 hours and died en route to GMC Hospital in Jammu.

Upadhyay hailed from Giridih in Jharkhand and joined the force in 2011. He is survived by a three-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter, officials said.

An Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF suffered a splinter injury at Pittal BoP, the officer said adding that he has been admitted to a hospital.

In the heavy Pakistan shelling in R S Pura and Arnia sectors, five civilians have been injured and evacuated to hospitals by police in bullet proof vehicles, a police officer said.

He said three civilians have been injured in Arnia sector and two in R S Pura sectors. Several houses have suffered damage and few animals have died.

SDPO, R S Pura, Sahil Prashur said police is using bullet-proof vehicles to evacuate the injured to the hospital and is reaching out to the people in shelling-hit zones.

In view of the shelling, the administration has activated the shelter set up.

However, there was a lull in the shelling in Kathua and Samba districts."There was no firing and shelling from across the border since yesterday in Kathua and Samba districts", the officer said. Yesterday, a BSF jawan was among two persons injured when Pakistan Rangers opened fire and lobbed mortars at over 15 border outposts (BOPs) and some civilian areas along the International Border in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

On May 15, a 28-year-old BSF jawan was killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by opening fire on forward posts to help infiltrators cross the International Border in Samba sector. Troops have also foiled four infiltration bids along the IB since May 12.(READ MORE)

Sachin slams Afridi for Kashmir comment, says outsiders need not interfere

Earlier, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said his priority stays with his nation and that he would never support anyone who opposes his country 

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday slammed former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi for meddling in India's internal matter.

When asked about Afridi's comments about Kashmir, Tendulkar said, "We have got capable people to manage and run our country. No outsider needs to know or tell us what we need to do."

After security forces in Kashmir killed 12 terrorists, Afridi took to Twitter and said "innocents" were being shot down in Kashmir.

"Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other international bodies and why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?" Afridi tweeted on Tuesday.

Earlier, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday said his priority stays with his nation and that he would never support anyone who opposes his country.

"As an Indian you want to express what is best for your nation and my interests are always for the benefit of our nation. If anything opposes it, I would never support it for sure. But having said that, it's a very personal choice for someone to make comment about certain issues," Kohli said.

The 29-year-old, who is set to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League, added, "Unless I have total knowledge of the issues and the intricacies of it I don't engage in it. Obviously, it goes without saying that your priority stays with your nation 

and anything that opposes it, you oppose it as well."

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev also hit back at Afridi over his anti-India remark, saying that one should not give importance to people like the former Pakistan skipper.

"Who is he? Why are we giving importance to him? We should not be giving importance to certain people," Dev, who won India's first World Cup in 1983, said.

Joining the bandwagon of cricketers slamming Afridi for his controversial tweet on Kashmir issue, Indian batsman Suresh Raina called on the 38-year-old to rather ask Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in Kashmir.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope @SAfridiOfficial bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence," he tweeted.

Soon after Afridi's tweet, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir had mocked the former Pakistan player and referred to him as a perennially immature person.

Gambhir had written that Afridi's tweet on the current situation in Kashmir and his reference to United Nations was according to "his age bracket".

"Media called me for reaction on @SAfridiOfficial tweet on OUR Kashmir and @UN. What's there to say? Afridi is only looking for @UN which in his retarded dictionary means "UNDER NINTEEN" his age bracket. Media can relax, @SAfridiOfficial is celebrating a dismissal off a no-ball!!! (sic)," Gambhir tweeted.

At least 12 terrorists and three soldiers were among 20 people killed in three separate encounters that broke out in the Kashmir Valley on Sunday. As many as 25 others were injured in the encounters.

Article source : Business standard  

Fear based oppressors execute BSF jawan Ramzan Parray, harm relatives in Kashmir

The militants, after forcing their way into the house in Parrey Mohalla, fired indiscriminately at the family

 

Activists on Wednesday raged the home of a Kashmiri BSF constable in the midst of a furlough, shooting him dead and causing gunfire wounds on four of his relatives in Hajjan in north Kashmir, police said.

Rameez Parrey (30) had a place with the 73rd contingent of the BSF.

The activists, in the wake of compelling their way into the house in Parrey Mohalla, let go aimlessly at the family.

The jawan passed on the spot. Four of his relatives - his dad, two siblings and an auntie - endured gunfire wounds, police said.

The state of the jawan's close relative was expressed to be not kidding, while that of the three others was steady.

The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, S P Vaid, named the occurrence as "savage and uncaring" and said the blameworthy would be rebuffed.

Parrey served the BSF for a six years.

The BSF, India affirmed the news on Twitter: "Prahari Pariwar remains by the group of one of our part Constable Md Ramzan who was fearful killed by psychological oppressors today.He was on clear out"

Nitish Kumar, who heads the police in North Kashmir, tweeted that the four were "fundamentally harmed"....Read More 

Kashmiri army man’s killing needs an honest appraisal of the ground reality

As the months pass, violence is claiming an ever-widening compass of victims in Kashmir

On May 9, Umar Fayaz Parray, a 22-year-old army officer from Kulgam district in South Kashmir, was abducted and killed. He was home on a fortnight’s leave from the Akhnoor sector in Jammu, where he was posted. According to local journalists, he had already spent 12 days at his home in Sudsona village. Parray was at his cousin’s wedding in neighbouring Shopian district when he was kidnapped.

As news of the killing broke on Wednesday, Parray’s name was swept up in a social media storm. His death was condemned by a range of public figures, from Defence Minister Arun Jaitley to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

There was renewed criticism of “stone-pelters”, “terrorists” and “anti-nationals”. There were tributes holding him up as a model Kashmiri, in contrast to Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander whose death last July triggered a summer of violent protest. It was reminiscent of the split screens on television last year, showing Kashmiri Indian Administrative Service officer Shah Faesal on one side and Wani on the other, until Faesal himself protested this formulation in a strongly worded opinion piece.

This time, anger was fuelled by reports that there had been stone-pelting on the funeral procession bearing Parray’s body. These reports were later refuted by journalists who visited the spot. (READMORE…)

Anantnag bypoll cancelled: Why have Kashmir's parties gone underground?

Public anger against PDP is mounting and unknown gunmen are knocking on doors of political activists

 

#LATEST | Less than a year ago, when you entered the town of Anantnag in South Kashmir, you were greeted with party flags. The pen and inkpot of the People’s Democratic Party, the plough of the National Conference, even the odd Congress hand fluttered in Khanabal Chowk, close to the government quarters.

As you drove deeper into Anantnag district, there were rival political rallies held in the main town and surrounding villages. And there was graffiti on walls and shopfronts, calling for a boycott of elections.

That was just before the bye-election to the Anantnag Assembly seat, which had fallen vacant with the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in January 2016. His daughter Mehbooba Mufti, who had succeeded him as chief minister, won that election in June. And as mandated by law, she quit her Anantnag Lok Sabha seat. Which meant another bye-election was due.

The polling was scheduled on April 12 this year, three days after the bye-election to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. But when eight people were killed in firing by security forces on protestors trying to disrupt the Srinagar bye-election, which saw a turnout of only 7.14%, the Anantnag election was postponed to May 25. On Tuesday, as the violence continued, the Election Commission cancelled the bye-poll .

Clearly, the political and security establishments could not take any chances, certainly not in South Kashmir. A season of unrest has swept through the district since last June, wrenching the flags off Khanabal Chowk. There is new graffiti, demanding “India Go Back”, declaring “Intifada 2016”, swearing allegiance to slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and Pakistan. Some such slogans have been painted over but many remain.| read more...