India has several human rights issues, working on restoring normalcy in Kashmir: US report

India has several significant human rights issues, including unlawful and arbitrary killings, restrictions on freedom of expression and the press, corruption and tolerance of violations of religious freedom, a US report said on Tuesday. India has several significant human rights issues, including unlawful and arbitrary killings, restrictions on freedom of expression and the press, corruption and tolerance of violations of religious freedom, a US report said on Tuesday. In its ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices’ to the US Congress, the Department of State noted the improvement in the…

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Evening flights to Srinagar will give major boost to Kashmir tourism: Dr. GN Itoo

Welcoming the start of night flight operations at Srinagar airport, Director Tourism Kashmir Dr. GN Itoo said evening flights and direct flights from major cities will give a major fillip to the Valley’s tourism sector. He added that both the evening and the direct flight from a major city like Bangalore will go a long way in attracting more tourists to the Valley. “We have been pursuing direct and the evening flights for a long time which has now got materialised. There are many travellers, especially business class who fly…

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Peace in South Asia contingent upon resolution of Kashmir dispute; Khan writes to Modi

Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has said that durable peace and stability in South Asia is contingent upon resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Imran Khan said this while thanking the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for his letter in which he conveyed greetings to the Pakistanis on Pakistan Day, observed on March 23. PM Imran Khan in his latest letter to Narendra Modi wrote, “The people of Pakistan also desire peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India. We are convinced that…

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Re-registration of vehicles purchased outside J&K; Myths & Facts

Choe’s across Kashmir valley after 100’s of vehicles bearing outside registration seized by the authorities. But, while talking to the authorities, things were made clear “If you have PROPER documents, and your vehicle is fit to ply, nothing to worry” Regional Transport Officer Kashmir has said that registration of vehicles purchased outside Jammu and Kashmir is mandatory in Jammu and Kashmir. RTO Kashmir Makes J&K Registration Mandatory for Non-J&K Purchased Vehicles. According to a notification issued by RTO Kashmir, the ARTOs of Valley districts have been asked to seize vehicles…

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LG Manoj Sinha directs officials to hoist the national flag on govt buildings within 15 days

ammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed the district officers of the Union Territory (UT) to ensure that the national flag is hoisted on all government buildings and establishments under their jurisdiction. The decision was taken on Monday by the Lt Governor in a meeting with the Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates, and Superintendents of Police of the UT. Accordingly, the Divisional Commissioner office of Jammu has asked all the Deputy Commissioners and Head of Departments (HoD) to implement the Lt Governor’s directive, regarding hoisting of National flag on…

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National Highway remains blocked for 3rd day, only Kashmir bound stranded vehicles between Nashri and Ramban allowed

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained blocked for the third consecutive day due to multiple landslides triggered by rains at various places between Banihal and Nashri in the Ramban district on Wednesday. However, Banihal-Jawahar tunnel stretch of highway was thrown open after accumulated snow was cleared by the BRO. Traffic officials said fresh landslides hit the highway at least at 15 places between Nashri and Banihal. Incessant rains that lashed the area, during the intervening night of March 23 and March 24, triggered fresh landslides at Mehar Cafeteria Morh, Chamba, Seri,…

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Tulip Festival 2021 to kick start from today

Asia’s largest tulip garden, overlooking the famous Dal Lake here, will be thrown open to the public on Thursday, marking the beginning of new tourism season in the Kashmir. Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was opened in 2008 by then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The idea of the garden, spread over 30 hectares in the foothills of snow-clad Zabarwan Range, was conceived to advance the tourism season in the Valley by two months. “The garden will be thrown open for public on Thursday,”…

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Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, ready to extend full support to peace initiatives between India, Pakistan

The moderate Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday said it was ready to extend full support to all initiatives between India and Pakistan that aim at bringing peace in the subcontinent. In a statement issued here, the Hurriyat faction said the agreement between India and Pakistan to adhere to a ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) and the subsequent statements and actions by them indicate a positive shift in the relations between the two neighbours. “The Hurriyat always was and is ready to extend…

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Pari Mahal ‘An abode of fairies’

Pari Mahal, also known as The Palace of Fairies, is located at the top of the Zabarwan mountain range, overlooking the city of Srinagar and the south-west of Dal Lake. The place is a remarkable example of Islamic architecture and patronage of art during the reign of the then Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The garden is 5 kilometres away west of the centre of Srinagar and consists of six-terraces aligned roughly north-south, with its uppermost point at its southern end, and arched retaining walls supporting the terraces against the mountain.…

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General Qamar Javed Bajwa calls for a peaceful Kashmir Resolution

Pakistan’s powerful army chief on March 18 urged for a peaceful resolution in the disputed region of Kashmir and for peace talks with archrival India, a rare conciliatory call amid a weeks-long cease-fire across the volatile territory. Unsettled disputes between the two South Asian nuclear rivals are “dragging this region back to the swamp of poverty and underdevelopment,” said Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, addressing a gathering of scholars and experts discussing national security issues at a seminar in the capital, Islamabad. There was no immediate comment from India. The disputed…

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