Year: 2015

Aborted NSA talks put fresh spotlight on Kashmir

Editor

The National Security Advisor-level talks between India and Pakistan—which have now been called off—put a fresh spotlight on Kashmir, after the recent issue of killings along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. While the US urged India and Pakistan to resolve all bilateral issues, including “disputed” Kashmir, in a direct manner and come up with a “common approach to resolve them”, the UN chief asked both nations to “address their differences through dialogue.” ‘KASHMIR A DISPUTE’ On Thursday, few days before the scheduled NSA talks in New Delhi—which…

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India-Pakistan peace talks collapse, deadlock sours relations

Editor

The collapse of planned peace talks between India and Pakistan hours before they were to start on Sunday has raised questions about the arch-rivals’ willingness to overcome mutual mistrust, built since their separation almost seven decades ago. This is the second time the nuclear-armed neighbours have cancelled talks since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in May last year, with both sides choosing to engage in a war of words ahead of the planned two-day meeting of their top security advisers. Since Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif,…

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50 colleges in JK without buildings

Editor

Belying the tall claims of successive regimes of Jammu and Kashmir over upgradation of infrastructure in education sector, as many as 50 percent colleges in the state are without buildings. Around 41 degree colleges have been approved under different centrally sponsored schemes and state plans from 2008 and 2011. However all of them are without government building facilities and are functioning from makeshift structures. The Government of India in year 2008 approved ten colleges for the state under Prime Minister’s reconstruction Plan (PMRP) phase II. However the buildings of all…

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India says no peace talks with Pakistan if Kashmir separatists involved

Editor

India will cancel planned peace talks with Pakistan if their top security adviser insists on meeting separatist leaders from the disputed Kashmir region, India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters Saturday. The national security advisers (NSA) of the nuclear-armed neighbours were scheduled to meet in New Delhi Sunday and Monday, but with both sides trading charges, talks were increasingly looking doubtful. Earlier in Islamabad, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister of Pakistan on national security and foreign affairs, said he was “still prepared to go to New Delhi for…

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Mufit Mohammad Sayeed upset over cancellation of NSA-level talks, Omar Abdullah blames him

Editor

A day after Pakistan called off NSA level talks, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday expressed disappointment, stating he hopes both the nations will re-engage in meaningful dialogue. According to ANI, Mufti hopes that break in talks would be temporary and the thaw achieved between India and Pakistan at Ufa will not be allowed to go waste. He also believes that the two neighbours will re-engage soon in meaningful dialogue and steps taken by Indian government to improve impediments in normalisation of relations will be reciprocated by…

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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Leh, reviews security situation in J&K

Editor

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir including defence preparedness along Ladakh borders and cross border infiltration. The Minister, who was accompanied by the chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh, arrived in Leh as part of his two-day visit to Ladakh region of the state. The Defence Minister held a high-level meeting of top commanders of the state and reviewed the security situation, cross-border infiltration and border security setup, defence officials said. “The General officer Corps 14 Corps briefed the Defence Minister…

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NC won’t allow ‘disintegration’ of J&K: Farooq Abdullah

Editor

National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah urged Jammu and Kashmir youths to fight “myopic politics” being played by vested interests to divide the state on regional and communal lines. “Youth has a very crucial role to fight myopic politics being played by vested interests to divide Jammu and Kashmir on regional and communal lines,” Abdullah said while addressing the party workers at party office yesterday. He said fragmenting society into bits and pieces is against the composite ethos of the state, which has all along been nurtured and sustained by…

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State badminton championship begins at Indoor Stadium

Editor

District Youth Services and Sports Srinagar under the patronage of DG Youth Services & Sports Jehangir Mir kicked off the state level inter-district badminton championship 2015 for boys and girls in the age groups U14, U17 & U19 at Indoor stadium, Srinagar. Sports Officer Srinagar Balbir Singh inaugurated the championship. On the occasion, Assistant Director Activities Kashmir Division Manjeet Singh and other officials of the department were present. Sports Officer Srinagar congratulated the participants for the huge participation and showing their love and dedication towards sports. He directed the organizers…

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J&K tour operator promote tourism products at Indore

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 ‘State government should take cue from other states for tourism promotion’ J&K tour operators and the department of tourism Kashmir promoted the state vigorously in the ongoing 31st Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) annual convention here at Indore which saw participation of over 1500 leading travel agents from India and abroad. J&K’s tour operators, however, said state government need to upgrade infrastructure for the smooth stay of the visitors. Valley’s noted tour operator Nasir Shah, who runs CNE Luxury Holidays in Srinagar, said that state government should take cue…

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Retailers flout Govt orders, sell mutton at Rs 400 kg

Editor

Even though the state government fixed prices of mutton at Rs 360 per kilogram just three days ago, the retailers sell mutton at Rs 400 per kilogram. The consumers from many areas complained that retailers sell mutton at Rs 400 per kilogram. “When I asked the retailer why he was selling mutton at Rs 40 costlier that government approved rates, he scoffed and said government doesn’t know the actual rates of the mutton,” said a consumer Javaid Ahmad from Rainawari. The consumers from other areas also complained of overcharging from…

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