Year: 2019

As Kashmir Crisis intensifies, ‘Time to settle India-Pakistan conflict for good’

Editor

In Jammu and Kashmir, taxi drivers say business is down by more than 80 percent compared with two years ago, while hotels are only getting a handful of guests Tensions soared between India and Pakistan in recent days as both sides launched said they launched air strikes Migrant workers are fleeing India’s northern state of Jammu and Kashmir and tourist arrivals have fallen to a trickle amid an escalating conflict with Pakistan, badly hurting businesses in the Himalayan region known for its scenic beauty and fruit harvests. Hundreds of taxis…

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Kashmir Crisis is causing chaos for air travel across the ​globe

Editor

Escalating tensions in and around Kashmir between Pakistan and India has led to chaos in the skies with passenger services to Europe cancelled and flights diverted. Numerous planes have been forced to avoid Pakistan following the closure of its airspace after two Indian military jets were shot down, meaning routes that would ordinarily take around two hours are now lasting longer than five. British Airways, Air India and Singapore Airlines are among those airlines forced to reroute services that would normally fly over northern India, with many forced to make…

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Narendra Modi as PM will be a disaster for India: Manmohan Singh

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Breaking his silence over BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday launched a scathing attack on him saying it will be a disaster for the country if such a person became the Prime Minister of India. “Without going into the credentials of anyone, I think it will be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the PM,” said Singh at his second press conference with media in his second tenure.He also took a dig at Modi over Gujarat riots saying, “Strong leader does…

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Ready to return IAF pilot if it leads to ‘De-escalation’; Pakistan, No deal on IAF pilot captured by Pak, return him immediately; India

Editor

Pakistan would be prepared to return the captured Indian Air Force pilot if it helped ease the crisis with India, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told in an interview to Geo TV on Thursday. “If there is de-escalation with the return of this [Indian] pilot, Pakistan is willing to consider this. We are ready for all positive engagement,” Qureshi said in the interview. He said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to Indian PM Narendra Modi over telephone and “extend an invitation of peace”. (Follow live updates)…

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Opposition condemn Modi govt for politicising current situation with Pakistan

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Opposition leaders condemned the Narendra Modi government for politicising the sacrifices of the Armed forces on a day an Air Force pilot was declared missing in action after an aerial engagement with the Pakistani air force. Leaders of 21 parties, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar met for more than three hours to discuss the developing situation with Pakistan. They condemned the Pulwama terror attack by “Pakistan-sponsored terrorists of…

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Valley shuts against arrest spree, NIA raids

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Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday against mass arrest of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists, the National Investigation Agency raids on residences of top separatist leaders including Muhammad Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and “attempts to tinker with” Article 35-A.The two-day call for shutdown (for Wednesday and Thursday) has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. Last week, the police swooped on Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists—apart from religious scholars of Jamiat-e-Ahlihadith and some separatist leaders—for unspecified reasons,…

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‘Tourists are our Guests’ Kashmir hotels open doors to stranded tourists

Editor

Amid heightened cross-border tension, which led to the closure of the Srinagar airport for civilian flights on Wednesday, hotels in the Kashmir valley have opened their doors to the stranded tourists, offering them free accommodation. Several hoteliers and travel agents came to the rescue of the tourists as the Srinagar-Jammu national highway too remained mostly shut during the past few weeks. “As tourists got stranded on Wednesday, we (Radisson group) offered free accommodation to them. We want to tell the tourists that they are our guests and we will make…

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2 IAF Jets shot down by Pakistan, One pilot held

Editor

Pakistan has said its air force shot down two Indian fighter jets on Wednesday morning and claims to have captured two Indian Air Force pilots. Pakistan’s military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said one of the pilots is in hospital. The Pakistan Army has also released a video that shows a blindfolded man, identifying himself as a Wing Commander-rank IAF officer and his service number. Then, he asks, “Am I with the Pakistani Army”. Indian officials have confirmed the possibility of pilots being held by Pakistan. The captured IAF pilot is…

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Pakistani jets violate Indian air space in Nowshera sector, Flight operations temporarily suspended at Srinagar airport

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Pakistani jets violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera area but were successfully confronted. An official said the jets were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol. The jets had entered into Indian air space this morning, the official said. More details are awaited. Meanwhile, Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were Wednesday closed for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF jet crashed in Budgam district and amid escalation of cross-Line of Control shelling between armies of India and Pakistan.“The civilian air traffic has been suspended…

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Amid escalating tension as well fearing war, locals rush for essentials

Editor

As the news filtered in about the Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK on Tuesday morning, a palpable tension gripped the winter capital. Although residents went on doing their normal chores, the looming threat of retaliation following Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s warning forced people to start buying essential commodities and fuel. Residents even started withdrawing cash from the ATMs and banks to keep hard currency with them. Thoughout the day, people remained glued to TV channels and social media for regular updates. Whenever…

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