Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

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Crime India News Jammu & Kashmir

Complete elimination of terror ecosystem is our focus: J&K L-G 

Lt Governor said that the complete elimination of terrorism and the terror ecosystem is the only way forward for the development of the Union Territory….reports Asian Lite news

J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, has said that the focus of the security forces should be the complete elimination of the terror ecosystem.  

Chairing a top-level security meeting here on Sunday, the Lt Governor said that the complete elimination of terrorism and the terror ecosystem is the only way forward for the development of the Union Territory. 

“Exemplary action must be taken against those aiding and abetting terrorism and its ecosystem. Our police and the security forces should not rest until terrorism is wiped out from the UT,” Sinha asserted. 

The meeting also reviewed various developmental projects and the security scenario in J&K. He emphasised project implementation and constant supervision to ensure speedy completion. 

He told the officers that their focus on the elimination of terrorism and the terror ecosystem would be their greatest contribution not only to the security of the region but also to its development. 

He advised various deputy commissioners to monitor the saturation of beneficiary-oriented schemes. 

The meeting was attended by the chief secretary, Atal Dulloo, DGP, Nalin Prabhat, ADGP Jammu, Anand Jain, all deputy commissioners and SSPs of the Jammu division. 

L-G Manoj Sinha has directed the security forces to go for hot pursuit of the terrorists in the aftermath of some dastardly attacks carried out by the terrorists. 

Terrorists have carried out a number of attacks across J&K during the recent days and in a disturbing development, the terrorists have made their presence felt in areas believed to have been completely cleared of any terrorist footprint. 

One of the most serious terrorist attacks was carried out on October 20 in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district where an infrastructure project company is building a tunnel to make Srinagar-Sonamarg an all-weather road. 

Two terrorists, a foreign mercenary and a local, entered the workers’ camp in Gagangir and fired indiscriminately killing six non-local workers and a local doctor. Four non-local workers of the company were also injured in the attack. 

Sonamarg and the entire Ganderbal district had been claimed to have been completely cleared of any terrorist presence for over 5 years before the dastardly attack took place at Gagangir. 

On October 24, terrorists attacked an army vehicle in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg ski resort killing three army soldiers and two civilian porters. 

Security forces said the group of terrorists responsible for the Botapathri attack had entered the higher reaches of Gulmarg after crossing the line of control (LoC) in August 2024 and had now been ordered to launch attacks against the army and the civilians by terror handlers in Pakistan. 

In another terrorist attack on November 10 in the Kishtwar district of the Jammu division, terrorists killed a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the elite Para commando force during an anti-terrorist operation in the Chaas area of Kishtwar. 

Terrorists killed a 41-year-old woman and injured 11 other persons on November 3 when they hurled a grenade at the busy Sunday pavement market in the tourist reception centre area of Srinagar city. 

Police later claimed to have apprehended three locals responsible for the grenade attack from the Ikhrajpora locality of Srinagar city. 

L-G Manoj Sinha said after the grenade attack that each drop of innocent blood spilled by the terrorists would be avenged. Sinha has ordered a proactive hot pursuit of terrorists, terror associates and terror sympathisers. 

Sunday’s meeting chaired by the Lt Governor in Jammu is to review the latest security scenario and take stock of the progress of anti-terrorist operations in the UT. 

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J&K wouldn’t be UT if Vajpayee was alive, says Omar

Omar Abdullah said that J&K would not have been downgraded to a UT had late Vajpayee’s strategy on Kashmir been followed….reports Asian Lite News

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the erstwhile state would not have been downgraded to a Union Territory had the road map of former Prime Minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee been followed.

Speaking during the obituary references in the legislative Assembly, Omar Abdullah said that J&K would not have been downgraded to a UT had late Vajpayee’s strategy on Kashmir been followed.

CM Omar recalled that after the then Assembly passed a resolution for greater autonomy to J& K, which New Delhi had rejected during Vajpayee’s prime ministership, “Vajpayee realised his mistake and then he designated the then law minister to engage in a dialogue with the state government on the subject. But, as providence would have it, he passed away and that was it.”

“What should I say about late Vajpayee? He was a great visionary. Vajpayee was a towering personality, who started the Lahore bus and went to Minar-e-Pakistan.

“He always tried to build friendly ties with Pakistan. He was the one who continuously stated that friends can be changed, but not neighbours”, CM Omar added.

He said that Vajpayee’s slogan of ‘Insaniyat, (humanity), Jamhuriyat (Democracy) and Kashmiriyat (identity of the Kashmiri people)’ was full of vision and a reflection of his statesmanship.
“Perhaps, he was the first and last leader who raised this slogan”, he said. Omar said that it was Vajpayee who opened roads to connect the people of divided parts of J&K.
“The motive behind opening of roads was to connect people and the civil society so that a personal relationship is created. But, unfortunately, the path and the road map shown by Vajpayee has been left midway and instead of connecting people, distances are being created. If Vajpayee’s road map on J&K would have been implemented and followed, we would not have been where we are at present,” Omar said as he paid rich tributes to Vajpayee.
The chief minister also paid tribute to BJP MLA, late Devender Singh Rana stating that he wasn’t aware about the health condition of his friend.
“If I am more pained over the death of any member, that is Devender. He was a great friend with whom I have spent the prime time of my life. I never knew about his failing health. If I would have been aware of his health, perhaps I would have tried to end the distances and indignation”, Omar said.

Security forces gun down terrorist in Valley

One unidentified terrorist was killed in a gunfight between the security forces and terrorists in J&K’s Bandipora district on Tuesday.

Officials said that the terrorist was killed during an encounter between terrorists and the security forces in Ketsun forest in Bandipora district.
“The operation is still going on in the area.
The identity of the slain terrorist will be ascertained once the encounter ends,” the officials said.
Ever since an elected government took office in J&K, terrorists have increased their activities as the intelligence agencies believe the terror handlers sitting across the border in Pakistan have been frustrated due to the participation of a large number of people in peaceful elections in J&K.
On November 2, a top commander of the LeT identified as Usman Bhai alias Chota Waleed of Pakistan was killed after a daylong gunfight in the old Srinagar city Khanyar area. Two local policemen and two CRPF troopers were injured in the Khanyar gunfight.

Last month, terrorists killed six workers of an infrastructure project company and a local doctor in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district. The workers were building a tunnel from Gagangir to Sonamarg tourist resort to make the Srinagar-Sonamarg an all-weather road and generate economic growth and employment in the area. Those killed in the Gagangir attack included six non-local workers and a doctor belonging to the Budgam district.
Later on, terrorists killed three army soldiers and two porters in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district.
Terrorists have also targeted non-local semi-skilled workers in Shopian Assembly Constituency’s Budgam districts. Although the terrorist targets escaped with minor injuries.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has given clear orders to police and other security forces to go after terrorists, their harbourers, sympathisers and overground workers (OGWs).
The occurrence of terrorist attacks in places hitherto believed to be free of militancy has been a worrisome development for the security forces as a single terror-related incident disturbs peace that has been painstakingly achieved by the security forces.

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J&K’s Verdict is Loud and Clear

Former JK CM Omar Abdullah said that the alliance was in pole position and urged the BJP not to play an dirty tricks….reports Asian Lite News

With the counting currently underway, the trends by the Election Commission of India have indicated that in Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu Kashmir National Conference and Congress alliance has crossed the halfway mark with leads in 47 seats as per trends released by the Elections commission.

As per the election commission data between 3-5 rounds of counting has been completed in most of the 90 constituencies in the region. Meanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party is leading in 28 seats.

The voting results decide the electoral fate of several former ministers including Tara Chand, Muzaffar Baig, Raman Bhalla, Basharat Bukha along with Omar Abdullah, Ravinder Raina, Yousuf Tarigami and several others.

Former JK CM Omar Abdullah said that the alliance was in pole position and urged the BJP not to play an dirty tricks.

“We have the hope that we will win. The decision made by the voters of J&K, we will get to know by today afternoon. There should be transparency…if people’s mandate is against BJP, they shouldn’t pull off any tricks…we did alliance so we can win and we are hoping to win,.” Omar Abdullah said.

In Jammu, Congress candidate from Bahu Assembly seat, TS Tony said that the Congress-NC alliance was all set to form the government.

“Congress-NC alliance is going to form the government with 2/3 majority. Earlier people trusted only statements. Now, all the lies are exposed…The people know everything now. This was the city of temples. BJP made it the city of liquors. They say that it is for revenue generation… The people are frustrated with the liquor and land mafia…They are exposed now. The public doesn’t trust them anymore…BJP is murdering the democracy. The appointment of 5 MLAs had to be done by the elected government. Even the President does not have this power of direct appointment. How can the LG have this arbitrary power?” he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Congress, partners in the INDIA alliance, jointly contested the assembly elections while the PDP and BJP fought the elections on their own. The J-K assembly election for 90 constituencies was held over three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1.

‘People decided to oust BJP’

With early trends of Election Commission on Tuesday indicating a lead for the National Conference-Congress alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Syed Suhail Bukhari said people have decided to oust BJP from the region and emphaised that the INDIA alliance will form a government with huge margin.

“We had already told that the way a huge number of people voted, they had decided to oust BJP from here…in an indirect rule, an L-G was imposed on people and they were kept deprived of their basic rights. The election is happening after 10 years…people were angry…INDIA alliance will form govt in J&K with a huge margin,” Bukhari said.

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday warned the BJP not to “pull off any tricks” if the mandate of the people is against them.

He also exuded confidence in the win of the NC-Congress alliance in the election.

“We have the hope that we will win. The decision has been made by the voters of Jammu and Kashmir, and we will get to know it by today afternoon,” Omar Abdullah told reporters here.

“There should be transparency. If people’s mandate is against BJP, they shouldn’t pull off any tricks,” he added.

He said that his party allied with Congress to win the election. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the election after a gap of ten years. However, Omar Abdullah said it’s still early to say if they will need the support of parties like the PDP.

“Neither have we asked for any support from them nor have we received any support…let the result come. Not sure why we are so restless, let the result come, right now nobody has the number…right now we are not in need (of their support) …once the result is out, we will analyse,” he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Congress, partners in the INDIA alliance, jointly contested the assembly elections while the PDP and BJP fought the elections on their own.

ALSO READ: BJP Set For Haryana Hat-trick; Congress-NC Wins In J&K

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Isolated On Kashmir, Pak PM Ramps Up Threats At UN

None of the world leaders who have spoken so far have even mentioned Kashmir – not even Turkey, which had made an anodyne reference last year.

Totally isolated at the world organisation in trying to raise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a sabre-rattling speech at the General Assembly, on Friday threatened a decisive response to a “limited war” by India that he made up.

He made up the claim that India’s “war doctrines envisage a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang” to capture the Kashmir territory it occupies.

“Let me state in no uncertain terms that Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian negation,” he said of the imagined threat in a bid to get attention to Pakistan’s version of the Kashmir issue.

It takes an ominous tone because on at least three occasions Pakistan launched invasions of India under various pretenses, leading to two wars and a more limited conflict.

Sharif asserted that “thoughtlessly, India has spurned Pakistan’s proposals for a mutual, strategic, restrained regime” and “its leadership has often threatened to cross the line of control and take over territories it occupies”.

Sharif set revoking the changes made in August 2019 a condition for a dialogue.

India’s condition for talks, on the other hand, is an end terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

In setting the condition, Sharif was referring to India ending the special status Kashmir had under Article 370 of the Constitution and integrating Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country.

He said: “To secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”

However, in fact, Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on April 21, 1948, requires the Pakistani government to first withdraw all its troops and infiltrators from the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

That resolution also requires Islamabad not to fund or arm terrorists who continue attacks in Kashmir, an element Pakistan ignores.

None of the world leaders who have spoken so far have even mentioned Kashmir – not even Turkey, which had made an anodyne reference last year.

Given the isolation, Sharif tried to link the Kashmir issue to Palestine, which has roused widespread attention.

“Like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, too, have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self-determination,” he asserted.

The leader of the Islamic Republic that denies equal rights to non-Muslim minorities, also tried to link the wider concerns over Islamaphobia to India.

He claimed that the “Hindu supremacist agenda in India” foments Islamaphobia and “aggressively seeks the subjugation of 200 million Muslims and the obliteration of India’s Islamic heritage”.

He said that Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation “will work with the UN Secretary General and a special envoy to implement a plan of action to combat the scourge”.

While Pakistan exports terror, Sharif played the victim of terrorism, rattling of a string of names of terrorist organisations like ISIL-K, al-Qaeda, and TTP.

He also spoke of the “90,000” Indian troops stationed in Kashmir, what he said were human rights violations there, and attempts to turn Muslims into a minority there.

India rebukes, calls out cross-border terrorism

India has warned Pakistan that cross-border terrorism against India will “inevitably invite consequences” and ruled out any agreement while the military-run government indulges in terrorism.

Bhavika Mangalanandan, a First Secretary in India’s UN mission, delivered the stern message on Friday while exercising India’s right of reply to Shehbaz Sharif’s attacks on New Delhi.

She said, “Pakistan should realise that cross-border terrorism against India will inevitably invite consequences.”

It was a “travesty” for “a country run by the military with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade. and transnational crime” to have “the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy,” she said.

Sharif asserted that India had spurned his offer of “a mutual Strategic Restraint Regime.”

Explaining India’s rejection, Mangalanandan said, “There can be no compact with terrorism.”

“Pakistan has long employed cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbours; it has attacked our Parliament, our financial capital, Mumbai, marketplaces, and pilgrimage routes. The list is long,” she said.

Appropriate for raising Pakistan’s terrorism links, Mangalanandan, who is a 2015 batch Indian Foreign Service officer with an MTech degree from IIT Delhi, deals with counter-terrorism matters at the UN.

“The world can see for itself what Pakistan really is,” she said. “We are talking about a nation that for long hosted (al-Qaeda terrorist organisation’s leader) Osama bin Laden, a country whose fingerprints are on so many terrorist incidents across the world, whose policies attract the dregs of many societies to make it their home.”

“For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy at its worst,” she said.

On the subject of hypocrisy, Managalanandan said, “It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of rigged elections to talk about political choices that too in a democracy.”

Bhavika Mangalanandan, a First Secretary in India’s UN mission

“The real truth is that Pakistan covets our territory and, in fact, has continuously used terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India,” she said.

Hammering on the topic of hypocrisy, she added, “It is ridiculous that a nation that committed genocide in 1971 and which persecutes its minorities relentlessly, even now, dares speak about intolerances and phobias.”

Sharif had accused India of promoting Islamaphobia and persecuting minorities.

Managalanandan said it was no surprise that Sharif should make such accusations against India.

“Yet we must make clear how unacceptable his words are to all of us. We know that Pakistan will seek to counter the truth with more lies. Repetition will change nothing. Our stand is clear and needs no reiteration,” she said.

In reply, Muhammad Faheem, a Third Secretary in Pakistan, repeated most of what Sharif had said in the morning.

He denied that Pakistan had carried out a genocide in Bangladesh during the country’s 1971 War of Independence and denigrated it as “foreign aggression.”

He mentioned allegations that India was involved in a killing in Canada and an attempted murder in the US.

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Political parties intensify preparations in J&K for polls

Polling would be held in three phases starting from September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8…reports Asian Lite News

Political parties have stepped up their electoral preparedness in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, going to polls in the third week of September.

Polling would be held in three phases starting from September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

The National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party have mentioned the restoration of Article 370 in their manifestos. The BJP, on the other hand, said that Article 370 has become a thing of the past. The upcoming elections are the first polls to be held in the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who released the party manifesto in Jammu on Friday, launched a scathing attack on Congress and the National Conference’s manifesto on Saturday. Shah said that they want to spread terrorism, snatch reservations of Gujjars, Bakarwal, Paharis, and Dalits, release criminals, and start LOC trade with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

Stating the BJP’s 10 agendas for elections, Shah said, “Congress and NC want to bring back two flags, article in Jammu and Kashmir, will you? They want to snatch the reservation of Gujjars, Bakarwal, Paharis, and Dalits. I want to tell one thing to Rahul Gandhi: no matter how much effort you put in, we will not let the reservation of Gujjars, Bakarwal, Paharis, and Dalits be touched. Abrogation of Article 370 has given rights to women, will you let them snatch their rights? They want to release the criminals wrapped up in terrorism, but we won’t let them spread terrorism in Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, and Doda. They say we will restart LoC trade, but who will benefit from it? Their profit will be used to spread terrorism. They want to talk to Pakistan, but I want to say that till there is no peace, there will be no talks with Pakistan.”

In an interview, NC Vice-President Omar Abdullah said that Article 370 is a long struggle.

“Article 370 and the special status of J&K are part of the National Conference’s ideology. It’s not something that we will surrender. But it’s not something that this assembly will be able to do. A couple of government changes will be needed at the centre before we even begin to address this issue. It took the BJP decades to do this, and we are not foolish to think that we will be able to undo it in 5 years. It’s a long struggle. It’s an issue that we believe is important to keep alive,” he said.

The National Conference and the Congress have forged a pre-poll alliance ahead of the polls.

There are a total number of 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 7 seats are reserved for SCs and 9 seats are reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors. In the previous Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12. (ANI)

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The Spectre of Jamaat E Islami in Kashmir

Jamaat-e-Islami, Srinagar(twitter)

The Jamaat’s tendency to define religion in distorted political contexts is the primary reason that youth have fallen prey to its propaganda, only to regret their decisions decades later, writes Dr. Shujaat Ali Quadri

The Ministry of Home extended the ban on Jamaat e Islami by five years. This was in recognition of the fact that that organization is synonymous with terrorism in Kashmir. The Jamaat was banned in 2019 as the government prepared its groundwork for abrogation of Article 370.

The Jamaat e Islami Kashmir was established in the early 1950s and over the decades the organization charted its own ideological path contrary to its parent organization that relocated to Pakistan. In doing so the Jamaat e Islami of Kashmir contradicted the principles of its parent body. Like any organization founded on long term institutional vision, the Jamat E Islami kashmir targeted the youth and middle classes through mass education campaigns.

Compared to Kashmir’s sufi establishment, the Jamaat’s missionary zeal empowered it to reach all corners of the valley in the name of establishing an Islamic society.

In 1960s and 1970s, when the then Congress leadership’s micromanaging of Kashmir affairs and the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah created a permanent leadership vacuum in the valley, the Jamaat got entrenched in Kashmir’s society and governmental apparatus.

Influenced by the upheavals in the Islamic world in the latter years of the Cold War, the Jamaat played a key role in the creation of Muslim United Front that contested the infamous elections of 1987. It is an open truth that elections were rigged by the Congress leadership and were followed by the beginning of armed insurgency by MUF Cadre. Later, an MUF leader Syed Salahuddin established the Hizb ul Mujahideen which eventually emerged as the most powerful militant outfit in the valley as it extensively drew from the Jamaat cadre.

Within the first few years of the insurgency, it became clear that armed violence was inadequate for the Jamaat to achieve its aims and its leaders founded another outfit, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference that carried the radical agenda with more sophistication.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Ideologues like Syed AIi Shah Geelani, who wrote extensively on the need for an Islamist society, simultaneously advocated Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. In his book “Nava-e-Hurriyat”, he presented a wrong interpretation of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India. Geelani justified Pakistan’s invasion of Kashmir in 1947, terming it as a war of liberation. Geelani even led prayers for Osama bin Laden after he was killed by American forces in Pakistan. For decades, he remained the face of radical politics Kashmir, bringing the daily life in Kashmir to a standstill whenever he wished.

Students head for school as winter vacation end in Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: IANS)

To conclude, in these three decades since the onset of insurgency, the Islamist agenda seeped so deep into the Kashmiri politics that it became synonymous with Kashmir’s body politic till the government finally decided to ban the Jamaat e Islami in 2019. In fact, it is not just Kashmir but the entire subcontinent that has suffered at the hands of the Jamaat. The Jamaat’s tendency to define religion in distorted political contexts is the primary reason that youth have fallen prey to its propaganda, only to regret their decisions decades later. Firstly, the Jamaat ideology alienates the muslim youth from their local Sufi traditions and instilled hatred against Sufism, and finally it antagonizes them to a point of no return.

(The Author is the Chairman of the Muslim Students Organisation of India)

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J&K Risks Gaza Fate Without Dialogue: Farooq Abdullah

Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing press conferences after all-party meeting in Srinagar.(photo: Umar Qadir)

Farooq Abdullah urged the leaders of both India and Pakistan to find a solution to their bilateral issues through dialogue….reports Asian Lite News

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, cautioned that the Union Territory could face a fate similar to Gaza, currently embroiled in conflict with Israel, if a political dialogue is not initiated.

He also urged the leaders of both India and Pakistan to find a solution to their bilateral issues through dialogue.

india, pakistan(twitter)

Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the National Conference President said while speaking to ANI, “Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that we can change our friends but not our neighbours. If we remain friendly with our neighbours, both will progress.”

The NC leader mentioned that PM Modi also said that ‘war is not an option now’ and ‘the matter should be resolved through dialogue”.

Farooq asked both the nuclear power countries, India and Pakistan, “Where is the dialogue?”

“Where is the dialogue? Nawaz Sharif is about to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and they are saying that we are ready to talk (with India), but what is the reason why we are not ready to talk?”

“If we do not find a solution through dialogue, we (Kashmir) will meet the same fate as Gaza and Palestine, which are being bombed by Israel…”, he warned.

In 1999, former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan just a few months before the Kargil War began. In the year 2015, PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with Nawaz in Pakistan during a surprise visit to the country. Pakistan’s continuous attempts to infiltrate Indian territory with terrorists have been the reason for unfriendly relations.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks left an unending outrage and pain amongst Indians. India-Pakistan ties nosedived after the abrogation of Article 370 in the year 2019.

 Farooq Abdullah’s latest comments come just days after four soldiers were killed in a terror attack on an Army Convoy in Poonch sector.   (ANI)

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BJP MP Jethmalani Affirms India’s Support to Sindhis in Pakistan

Opening up on the plight of Sindhis in Pakistan, Jethmalani said efforts would be made to persuade the Centre to consider providing refuge to people from the community if they face persecution in their homeland.

After Parliament passed two Bills for Jammu and Kashmir, which provide seats for members from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to the provincial assembly following the restoration of statehood, senior advocate and BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani on Thursday affirmed India’s support to Sindhis in Pakistan, assuring assistance in the face of persecution or atrocities.Opening up on the plight of Sindhis in Pakistan, Jethmalani said efforts would be made to persuade the Centre to consider providing refuge to people from the community if they face persecution in their homeland.”We will not interfere with the internal affairs of Pakistan. But if they (Sindhis) are in any trouble, or being persecuted or being subjected to atrocities, we will try to persuade the government to give them refugee status and shelter them here,” the senior advocate added.Earlier. in September this year, the Sindhi Foundation organised a day-long poster campaign in front of the United Nations office in Geneva to make people aware of the plight of Sindhis in Pakistan’s Sindh province.The campaign was held during the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.Speaking to ANI, the executive director of Sindhi Foundation, Manawar Laghari, said, “The message is very very clear. Pakistan is a hurdle and is really a curse on the earth. No one is happy. Neither the people living in Sindh, Balochistan or Pakhtunkhwa, Saraikis, Hazaras, Chitrals, Gilgit – all those oppressed people they want to get rid of this country”.”They want freedom from Pakistan and my message to the United Nations is this – we want referendum under the supervision of the United Nations not what the data Pakistan has, especially with the ISI, we don’t believe in that. Under the supervision of the UN referendum to get our independence. This is our very clear message,” he added. (ANI)

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J&K’s Gyanodaya Express Starts with 700 Students

This unique train will undertake a transformative journey, carrying 700 female students from various universities in the Union Territory as they travel across different states for educational purposes….reports Asian Lite News

In a ceremonial commencement at Katra railway station, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated the Gyanodaya Express.

This special train is set to embark on a transformative journey, transporting 700 female students from diverse universities within the Union Territory as they traverse through different states for educational endeavors.

In a post on X, J-K LG Sinha said, “Flagged off Gyanodaya Express, College on Wheels, the first-of-its-kind mobile educational endeavour in Jammu Kashmir, aiming to empower approximately 700 girl students from Universities of the Union Territory.”

Terming it an educational pilgrimage for the students, LG Sinha said,” The journey endeavours to dissolve boundaries of classrooms, and streams and evolve education by providing immersive, collaborative, and project-based learning experiences.”

Gyanodaya Express also known as College on Wheels is inspired by the life of Mahatma Gandhi, when he undertook an epic tour of the country by train, interacted with people from all walks of life and awakened society with universal and eternal values of Satya and Ahimsa, Truth and Non-Violence.

The journey of students along with mentors to centres of excellence such as the Indian Navy, ISRO, and Sabarmati Ashram will provide them with new ideas, insight and hands-on knowledge for new research, an official statement said. (ANI)

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Kashmir Skips Israel-Hamas Emotional Trap

Even though Kashmir is a Muslim-majority valley, the people have decided not to take to the streets on the issue….writes Deepika Bhan

As Israel’s war on Hamas rages, demonstrations are being seen in several countries in support of the Palestinian cause. In India too, pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests were held in a few cities.

Some organisations, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Left parties, held protests in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kerala and others against Israeli bombings in Gaza.

But, one place that has remained largely silent is Kashmir.

Even though Kashmir is a Muslim-majority valley, the people have decided not to take to the streets on the issue.

Israel arrests more than 50 Hamas operatives after fatal shooting

Some separatist leaders and their sons did try to mobilise supporters soon after Israel declared action in Gaza. On October 13 in central Kashmir’s Budgam district Hurriyat leader Aga Syed Hassan’s son Muntazir led an anti-Israel and anti-US demonstration following the congregational Friday prayers. As the separatists tried to fan passions, quick J&K Police response thwarted any conflagration.

Kashmir political leaders also reacted angrily over the bombings in Gaza. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to condemn the Hamas terror attack on Israelis, and after strike on a hospital in Gaza held a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to convey condolences over the loss of civilian lives, and also reiterated India’s “long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue”, the leaders in Kashmir have been trying to whip up passions.

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti addresses a press conference in Srinagar on Aug 4, 2019. (Photo: IANS)

Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticised the Government of India’s stance on the Hamas attack on Israel. In her October 10 post on X she said, “…Vajpayeeji too called Israel an occupying force which mustn’t be allowed to continue reaping the benefits of occupation. Today once again BJP is choosing their agenda over national policy.” She has been tweeting almost every day to stir passions on the crisis.

Former Chief Minister and NC president Farooq Abdullah expressed concern over India’s stand. “India since (former Prime Minister) Jawaharlal Nehru’s time supported Palestine and stood against oppression of Palestinians. It’s unfortunate the same voices do not come forward to Palestine’s support in India anymore. History stands witness that Jews took over the land of Palestinians in Palestine and expanded their territory,” Abdullah said.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed great anguish and grief at the loss of lives and lamented that the international community and the United Nation have failed the people of Palestine. “The issue of Palestine is a long-pending one, and a just solution should be found to it. The rights of the people of Palestine should be given back to them. Their nation and their land have been squeezed. Can there be a bigger oppression than that?”

While the leaders expressed their feelings and are trying hard to guide sentiments in the valley, the people are not reacting like earlier times when even small happenings were deliberately turned into major anti-India protests and stone pelting sessions.

On December 8, 2017, Kashmir witnessed massive protests over the US recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Hundreds of demonstrators held rallies and burned American and Israeli flags and at some places protests took a violent turn as the protesters clashed with security forces.

Six years later the valley is no longer violently reacting to the situation. Leaders trying to whip up passions are not being listened to, and helping maintain peace are the security agencies.

Normal life in Srinagar on the 4th anniversary of the Abrogation of Article 370 & 35A – Umar Ganie

Since 1988 Kashmir has witnessed a lot of bloodshed because of Pakistan sponsored terrorism. Though there are no official estimates, in the over three-decade period thousands have died, minorities uprooted and social fabric harmed. Businesses and education suffered. Families were torn apart and people lived in a round-the-clock atmosphere of fear.

Leaders propped up by Pakistan propagated a false narrative of ‘azadi’ and hundreds of youths were misled to take up guns and many were made stone pelters. The myth was broken soon after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and now four years later the people have realised the falsehood spread by Pakistan and their prop up in Kashmir.

Investigations by various agencies have helped unmask these leaders, who filled their coffers, built properties in and outside the valley, educated and settled their kin out of Kashmir and country even as they led youths to violence.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, the valley has witnessed a tremendous transformation from terrorism to tourism.

Till September 1.70 crore tourists have already visited the UT. This figure may go up to 2.25 crore by the end of the year, a significant increase from last year’s 1.88 lakh tourist arrivals, which was the highest number of tourists in the UT in the last seven decades.

The number of foreign tourists to the UT has also seen a major hike from 4,028 foreign arrivals in 2022 to 30,647 till August. Srinagar hosted the G20 meeting (the third tourism working group meeting of the G20 member countries) and post that, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in J&K has gone up by 350 per cent from the last year, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has said.

As tourism is booming in the UT, the locals are witnessing the benefits and a large number of unemployed are now earning. Other businesses, like handicrafts, are also showing an upwards trend.

With the peace pervading, education has also taken precedence. The number of youths qualifying for UPSC is growing every year. And more youths are participating in sports activities. Investments are also picking up and a lot of development projects are upcoming.

The locals, who have borne the brunt of the terror phase, are now realising the futility of the violence on the name of religion and ‘azadi’, and are realising the path of peace and development.

Kashmir was a laboratory for Pakistan and its people were not dear to it. This is what the common Kashmiri has realised. The pathetic situation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) has laid bare this truth. The people in PoK are up against Pakistan and its army and seek merger with India.

The truth of the 1988-2019 period of Kashmir is too bitter and tragic that Kashmiris don’t want to fall into the trap again. When demonstrations are flooding the streets of the US, Europe and other countries, Kashmiris are preferring to stay silent. They know what the pain of loss is and they have lost enough.

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