Day: August 21, 2015

Talks in peril as India advises Pakistan against its NSA Sartaj Aziz meeting separatists

Editor

The fate of India-Pakistan NSA-level talks hung by a thread on Friday as India officially asked Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz in an advisory not to go ahead with his proposed meeting with Hurriyat leaders. Pakistan though seemed to have further hardened its position as its diplomats said Aziz was going to have meetings with all Hurriyat leaders ahead of the dialogue between the NSAs on Monday. India said on Friday that it had also sought a confirmation from Islamabad for a dialogue agenda‎ which it had formally communicated to Pakistan…

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Virgin Valleys of Gurez

Editor

People in India have only one thing to tell me when I tell them that I am from Kashmir. They exclaim, “Oh, Paradise on earth”. From Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Gujarat in the west and from Tamil Nadu in the South to Jammu in the North, I have seen people praising the beauty of Kashmir. For many of us who were born and brought up in Kashmir, our place presents many different stories through diverse perspectives. I have been enchanted by the beauty of the Dal with Shikaras…

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Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road only corridor to peace: Mufti Sayeed

Editor

Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Thursday said Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was the “only road” that would lead to peace in Jammu and Kashmir as he asked New Delhi to promote people-to-people contact beyond the divided families across the Line of Control (LoC).  “Today when guns are roaring on borders from Kathua to Poonch, I can see light in the dark tunnel. We laid the foundation of this road (Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road) in 2004. There is no other road to peace but this and I have come here to resolve to take this…

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Neglected for decades, Information Department set for major makeover

Editor

After facing decades of neglect, the J&K Information and Public Relations Department is all set for a major makeover with Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed keen to see the department emerging on modern lines. To begin with, the department has already set the capacity-building process into motion by strengthening the department, both by way of latest infrastructure and professional human resource. According to Muneer-ul-Islam, Director Information, the three driving forces for the Department’s rejuvenation are Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Minister of State for Information Priya Sethi and Principal Secretary…

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Curfew Imposed in Samba Over Alleged Communal Clashes

Editor

Curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district late on Thursday following communal clashes, authorities said today. “Curfew was imposed in Samba district after violence erupted there following alleged religious sacrilege by members of one community,” a police official told IANS in Jammu. Violent clashes erupted yesterday evening at Raya Morh area in Samba district where protesters torched the vehicle of the district magistrate and smashed other vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Several policemen and protesters were injured in the clashes. Army was called during the night to install…

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Srinagar-Jammu Highway Four Laning : PMO to review progress

Editor

The Prime Minister’s Office will Friday review the progress of four-laning of Srinagar-Jammu Highway. Highly placed sources told us that Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Nripendra Misra, has convened a high-level meeting in New Delhi to discuss the project which has been marred by delays. Besides top officials in PMO, the meeting is expected to be attended by representatives of National Highways Authority of India, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and JK Government. While participation of JK’s Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday is uncertain due to the state cabinet…

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Kashmir a disputed territory, says US

Editor

Ahead of NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan, the US Thursday said Kashmir is a disputed territory and it is for the governments of India and Pakistan to solve the dispute. Asked about uncertainty over NSA talks given that Pakistani officials have invited separatist Kashmiri leaders for a meeting before the crucial talks, a White House official said he would leave that to the Indian and Pakistani governments to address. “Kashmir is a disputed territory. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory. I think, it’s up to them to address…

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J&K govt’s flip-flop dilutes Centre’s tough stand on Hurriyat-Pakistan meet

Editor

India sent a message to the separatist Hurriyat on Thursday to discourage them from travelling to Delhi to meet Pakistani national security adviser Sartaj Aziz before he meets his Indian counterpart A K Doval on Monday, but saw the effort being undermined by the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led state government. No Pakistan itinerary: Is Aziz trying to wriggle out? J&K police deployed its personnel outside the homes of senior Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar in a move designed to amplify New Delhi’s opposition to any engagement between Hurriyat leaders and Aziz. Soon,…

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Did Mehbooba Mufti order the release of Kashmiri separatist leaders?

Editor

Top Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, were on Thursday put under house arrest only to be released within hours in actions that were linked to their proposed meeting with Pakistani National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz in Delhi on Sunday. While the detention drama played out, there were confusion over who ordered the release of the Hurriyat leaders. While some reports quoted sources as saying that the order was given from the Centre, as per NDTV, it was Jammu and Kashmir CM’s daughter Mehbooba Mufti…

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J&K BJP leader seeks dismissal of Mufti government

Editor

Strains showed in the BJP-PDP alliance with a senior BJP leader demanding dismissal of the Mufti Sayeed government over the release of top separatist leaders hours after they were on Thursday put under house arrest. “After what Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did today by releasing within two hours seditionists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, the dismissal of his government forthwith has become imperative,” senior BJP leader Prof Hari Om said. “Governor N N Vohra should be asked to invoke section 91 of the…

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