Srinagar, General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based XV Corps, Lt General Syed Atta Hasnain, has said that security forces have been successful in foiling infiltration attempts by militants across the Line of Control (LOC). "We have had only one contact, on operation on the line of control (LoC). Besides that I cannot guarantee you that infiltration is not taking place, possibly some infiltration has taken place. Our grid on the LoC it is always porous, it can never be hundred percent certain some infiltration must have taken place but I think we have been very successful in limiting it," he General Hasnain told media here. "I think in Kashmir the threat of infiltration actually increases around about mid- June to July and that is the time we should be looking for," he added. He also hailed the scheduled visit of Home Secretary R K Singh to Pakistan. "In my view both India and Pakistan are now moving towards greater economic cooperation and the visit by Home Secretary (to Pakistan) is a precursor to that development," he said. " Whenever he goes to Pakistan to engage in bilateral talks, he would be in a better position to talk and carry forward the process ...
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Srinagar, The death toll in Thursday's gunfight on Jammu and Kashmir's border has risen to six, and Indian troops are searching the area for more bodies, an official said Saturday. The incident took place at Uri in Baramulla district along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. "The gunfight ended Thursday but we are still carrying out searches," a military spokesman told IANS here. "Bodies of four terrorists were recovered Thursday while wireless intercepts of terrorists confirm that six were killed in the gun battle," the spokesman said. Soldiers on the border had laid an ambush to target a group of heavily armed guerrillas who were trying to infiltrate into the Kashmir Valley from Pakistan on Thursday. "We had intelligence for about a month that 30-40 heavily armed terrorists were planning to infiltrate. On Thursday we had actionable intelligence... We laid an ambush. "The infiltrators belonged to a mixed group of local and foreign terrorists. Since the terrain is hilly and rugged, the searches needed to be carried on for a longer time," Brigadier B.S. Raju told ...
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Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (J and K) government on Wednesday began the proceedings for shifting its civil secretariat from the winter capital Jammu to the summer capital of Srinagar. Referred to as 'Durbar Move' in local lexicon, this annual century-old tradition reportedly costs the state exchequer over Rs. 100 million annually. The people in Srinagar are happy as their grievances would be heard and the government would take swift measures to address their woes. " People who have work in Jammu they get it done there and people in Srinagar who have work they get it done here. This is a very good thing that in winter session they secretariat operates from Jammu and in summer session they operate from Srinagar," said a local, Javed Ahmed. The civil secretariat closed in Jammu on Friday (April 27) and it would start functioning from Srinagar from Monday (May 07). "We will open office from the May 07 onwards and it would become operational from Monday (May 07th), " Nisar Ahmed, an employee of the secretariat, said. Srinagar is located 300 kilometers north of Jammu. The state government secretariat shifts every spring and autumn between the two capitals in ...
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Srinagar, A police officer was critically injured Friday when separatist guerrillas shot at him near a police station in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, police said. "Separatist guerrillas fired from close range at Sukhpal singh, assistant sub-inspector of police, near the Bagyaz police station in the city Friday. He has been moved to hospital for treatment," a police officer told IANS. Hospital sources added that Sukhpal Singh received two bullet injuries and was in a critical condition. No separatist group has accepted responsibility till now. With the mountain passes reopening as spring begins, security sources have been put on high alert to thwart infiltration into the Kashmir ...
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Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday termed the shifting of the state capital between Jammu and Srinagar twice every year as "waste of money", but said no viable alternative to the arrangement has come forth so far. "Do I think the 'Durbar move' (shifting of capital) is a waste of money? Yes I do. Is there an alternative? I haven't seen a viable alternative suggested," Omar wrote on the micro-blogging site twitter.com. The state government shifts its capital from Jammu to Srinagar in the first week of May every year and functions here for six months before moving back to Jammu along with volumes of records. The state government spends crores of rupees on travel allowances for the nearly 5,000 employees and transportation of hundreds of thousands of files between the twin capitals. In response to a tweet from his follower, Omar said the Darbar move practice was "escapist". "I agree. We run away when people need us most and (they) face the most difficulty. The darbar move is escapist," he said. The state government's 'move offices', as they are known in local parlance, will close in Jammu on April 28 and reopen here on May 7. The ...
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New Delhi, India is willing to discuss about the Kashmir issue with Pakistan to advance the peace talks, but the latter needs to take serious action against militants using its soil to attack India, a top Indian diplomat has said. Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said the fact that Jamaat-ud- Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed was able to address public gatherings and appear on television was troubling to India. He added that Pakistan's recent moves, including an agreement in February 2012 to open its markets to Indian goods indicates that the latter is serious in improving bilateral ties. "I wouldn't have been as optimistic six months ago. The fact the government is able to move on the trade track shows there's a greater willingness to take things forward by all the players," The Wall Street Journal quoted Mathai, as saying. He said India "would be happy" to start talks toward a deal to keep Kashmir's borders intact, but allow greater trade and movement of people across the Line of Control. New Delhi believes it is now "up to the Pakistanis to decide how to proceed" on peace talks, Mathai said. His statement, which comes after the Pakistan President Asif Ali ...
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New Delhi, Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was Wednesday questioned here for recommending a Pakistani visa for a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack in the capital, police said. "Geelani reached Lodhi Road office of the Special Cell around 3 p.m. today and was let off after 15 minutes of questioning," said an investigation officer. Police earlier found a copy of Geelani's recommendation letter with Ahtesham Malik, one of the two alleged Lashkar terrorists arrested in Delhi. According to police, the 24-year-old Malik was in Pakistan last summer. He went on a valid passport -- which police said was a new Lashkar strategy of sending recruits from the Kashmir Valley to Pakistan, with legal papers, for "arms and explosives ...
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Jammu, There was uproar in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Monday when independent MLA Abdul Rasheed raised the issue of clemency to the 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Rasheed said that he condemned the attack but making a scapegoat of Afzal Guru will not solve problems. He added that many are discussing Afzal's case but no one listens to those who ask for his clemency. Reacting to Union minister Farooq Abdullah's recent statement, Rasheed said, "If Dr Abdullah has said Afzal Guru has to pay the price then those who kill Kashmiris should also pay the price." His statement met with strong objections from legislative members of the BJP and Panthers Party. JKNPP MLA Harsh Dev Singh said, "Clemency petition is with the President of India, he should be asked to go to the President." Harsh and another member accused Rasheed of playing to the gallery and wasting the time of the house. Rasheed again raised the issue after the question hour but he was marshalled out of the house. Afzal was given death penalty by the Supreme Court in 2004. His mercy petition is pending before the president. ...
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Srinagar, Nine civilians who were trapped in an avalanche in north Kashmir's Sonamarg hill station were rescued in a joint operation by the army, the air force and the civilian administration on Friday. They were trapped in the avalanche on Thursday. "Nine people trapped in an avalanche under the Shitkari Bridge in Sonamarg area were rescued today (Friday) in a joint rescue operation by the army, the air force, local police and the civil administration, with the help of locals," provincial disaster management authority said in a statement that was issued on Friday. "They had got trapped in the avalanche on 23rd Feb. The nine persons were airlifted in choppers of the army and the air force, using rope ladders as landing in the area was not possible..one ALH Chopper and one Cheetah helicopter participated in the rescue. Wing Commander Vikram and Flight Lieutenant Desai flew the helicopters. The rescue started at 7 a.m. Friday," it said. The statement said that the rescued people were shifted to Sonamarg from where they would be airlifted in a Mi-17 chopper to Ganderbal town. At least 19 Indian soldiers were killed and three were still missing after their camps were ...
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Srinagar, Eleven army personnel were killed and eight are missing in two overnight avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir, an army official said on Thursday. While eight were killed in Bandipora district, another three were buried under the avalanche in Ganderbal district, the official said. Both the areas are in north Kashmir. Lt. Col. J.S. Brar, spokesman of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, told IANS: "Eight army troopers were killed and eight are still missing while 13 have been rescued from the avalanche that struck the brigade headquarters in Dawar village of Gurez subdivision of Bandipora Wednesday night." "Operations are still on to rescue the eight buried under the avalanche," he said. Gurez is located 109 km from here. "Three soldiers of the Territorial Army, including a junior commissioned officer, were killed in another avalanche that struck an army camp late Wednesday night in Sonmarg resort in Ganderbal," he added. Ganderbal is 87 km from Srinagar. In a third avalanche, more than a dozen hutments in Ramwari area of Ganderbal during the night, but no loss of life occurred in the incident. The area is inhabited by nomadic goatherds during the summer as they take ...
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Srinagar, Nine army troopers were killed in two avalanche tragedies in north Kashmir's Bandipora and Ganderbal districts. "A massive avalanche struck the brigade headquarters of the army in Dawar village of Gurez subdivision of Bandipora district during the night," Lt Col JS Brar, spokesperson of the army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps told IANS. "So far, six bodies have been recovered from the avalanche debris. The toll is feared to rise as more troopers are believed to be under the avalanche," he said. "In another similar incident, three troopers of the army were killed in Sonamarg (Ganderbal) when another avalanche hit an army camp there," he said. A third avalanche has destroyed over a dozen hutments in Ramwari area of Ganerbal district during the night but no loss of life occurred in the incident. The area is inhabited by nomadic goatherds during the summer as they take their flock of sheep and goats for grazing. Only last wek, a major disaster was averted in Ganderbal district as a massive avalanche blocked the passage of water in the Sindh stream that flows to the middle of Sonamarg tourist resort. Meanwhile, TV reports says as many as 20 soilders ...
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Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today favoured Centre-state consultations to put at rest any controversy over setting up of National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). "There has been no discussion between state government and the central government on the issue of NCTC. I do not think it would be appropriate as chief minister for me to publicly comment about it, before I privately share the feelings of the state government with the Union government on this crucial issue," Omar Abdullah told reporters on sidelines of a function here, 20km from Srinagar. He said consultation between the Centre and the states was essential to put at rest the controversy surrounding NCTC. "I have no doubt that in the days and months ahead, the central government will call the state governments for consultation. I believe consultation is essential and during the course of that consultation we will share the thoughts of the state government with the Centre," he said. Chief ministers of a dozen states have voiced their opposition to the creation of the NCTC but Omar Abdullah did not speak either in favour or against ...
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Srinagar, Concerned over the reports about the highest number of 67 per cent passive smokers, one of the causes for cancer, Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association (VHO) today urged people to take a pledge to join the global fight against cancer to reduce premature deaths from this devastating disease. This was stated in an awareness programme for NGO partners and volunteers conducted by VHA at its headquarters Pandrethan to observe the World Cancer Day. The meeting was attended by A K Wani, senior Program Manager VHA, Dr A A Tahir, Wings Organisation and Balbir Singh, district Coordinator, Axshya Project, JKVHA and its partner NGOs and Volunteers, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Aamir Ali in the office of Divisional Commissioner, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon said. He said it was revealed that cancer is a leading cause of deaths around the world. In India, tobacco alone is responsible for cancers, million heart diseases and million lung diseases every year. India is the oral cancer capital of the world because of rampant habit of Tobacco chewing. Over 65 per cent of cancer in India is contributed to Tobacco related breast and cervical cancer. Scientific ...
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Islamabad, Pakistan and India have fought four wars on the Kashmir issue but can't afford any more in "this 21st century", Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said while calling for resolving issues through dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy and national consensus. Gilani said with four wars already fought on Kashmir issue, the region still was a flashpoint. "But in this 21st century, we cannot afford wars", Associated Press of Pakistan quoted him as saying Sunday. Pakistan and India have had armed conflicts in 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999. "We want to resolve the issues through dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy and national consensus," the prime minister said. Gilani said Sunday that Kashmir issue remained the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. "We are committed to continue with the moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. The whole nation including all the political parties are united on the cause of Kashmir," Gilani said while addressing the Kashmir Convention held here. The prime minister added that since Pakistan is a responsible country as well as a responsible nuclear power, it has to make responsible policies. "We want to ...
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Jammu, Playing down the row over visit of controversial author Salman Rushdie to India, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said Rushdie had visited the country in the past as well. Abdullah claimed that vested interest have raked up the issue to exploit it for political purposes in the upcoming elections in the five states. “Salman Rushdie has come before this also. Why suddenly is Salman Rushdie becoming an issue? Clearly there are those who are seeking to exploit this for political purposes given that there are elections in five states,” said Abdullah. Abdullah said that it was unnecessary to blow the issue of Rushdie’s visit to India out of proportion. “We underestimate the intelligence of Indian Muslims when we try to raise issues like this which have no bearing on day to day concerns of Muslims. I don’t believe that there are many Muslims in India for whom visa to Salman Rushdie will be an election issue,” added Abdullah. An influential Islamic seminary, Darululoom Deoband seminary, has urged the central government to deny visa to Rushdie, who would be attending a literature festival later this month. India-born ...
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Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Flood and Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din today said the NHPC was never given ownership of power projects as per the provisions of law except their execution, operation and maintenance in Jammu and Kashmir. "Even the agency status given to the corporation expired in 1987. Therefore, these projects actually belong to the State and the NHPC was never given ownership of power projects," Mr Taj said while speaking at the national seminar on 'Management of Water Resources in North India', at University of Jammu here this morning. He said a cabinet sub-committee however, has recommended for payment to the corporation for taking over Uri and Salal projects which would enable Jammu and Kashmir to become not only self sufficient in power but also export it to other States and strengthen the economy of the state to stand on own legs. "Government has constituted a cabinet sub-committee which is examining the issue and we intend to buy back Uri and Salal hydel projects on the depreciated value which can make Jammu and Kashmir a surplus in power generation," the Minister added. The Minister further said the Government has initiated the process to ...
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Srinagar, An avalanche warning has been issued in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and people have been told not to leave their homes, an official said Saturday. The divisional disaster management cell has issued an avalanche warning to people living in Gurez, Tangdhar, Machil, Keran, Karnah and Uri regions of the state. "The residents of these areas must try to avoid movement outside their homes as far as possible," Amir Ali, in charge of the divisional disaster management cell, said. Snow clearance operations have started in Srinagar where roads are being cleared but inter-district connectivity between Srinagar and other places of the valley has been affected. Report of heavy snowfall has come in from north Kashmir Gulmarg ski resort and Sonamarg tourist resort, and south Kashmir Pahalgam hill ...
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Srinagar, Separatist guerrillas Saturday attacked the convoy of the Sopore district police chief in Jammu and Kashmir, injuring two of his guards and a civilian, police said. "Militants attacked the cavalcade of the Sopore Superintendent of Police, Syed Imtiyaz Hussain. They first lobbed a grenade and then fired from automatic weapons. Two of his guards and a civilian were injured," a senior police officer told IANS. Sopore in north Kashmir is 54 km from ...
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Srinagar, In view of massive protests across Kashmir valley against power crisis, the Power Development Department (PDD) today said it has decided to increase the power supply to 1,100 mw in the region from current 951 mw. "Consequent to a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on December 29, 2011 to review the status of essential supplies including that of power supply in the state, particularly the Kashmir valley, during the winter season, the PDD has ensured that energy supply to Kashmir valley is significantly increased to give immediate relief to the common man from severe winter conditions prevailing in the valley," Power Development Commissioner M A Salroo said in a statement here. He said current electricity supply level has gone upto 951 mw from an average of 850 mw to Kashmir valley earlier, and now and "the effort of the PDD would be to increase it further to 1,100 mw in coming days". Mr Salroo said electricity supply has increased by 10 per cent to nearly 5,809 lakh units in December 2011 as against 5,300 lakh units in the same month previous year. The PDD has also been directed to put into operation gas turbines immediately to give ...
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ISLAMABAD: The governments of Pakistan and India are considering a proposal to demilitarize the border of the disputed region of Kashmir, according to media reports on Tuesday. A senior Pakistani foreign ministry official told The Express Tribune that Pakistan has proposed the redeployment of heavy weaponry along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides the Pakistani and Indian-administered regions of Kashmir. "We (Pakistan) have proposed to redeploy artillery and mortar 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from the LoC," the official said on condition of anonymity. The proposal is an effort by both countries to demilitarize the disputed Himalayan region, where in the past the two sides often exchanged fire, leaving hundreds killed. The official added, however, that discussions on the proposal were in their initial stages and no major breakthrough is expected during the ongoing round of talks. The suggestion is part of several other proposals being discussed at the two-day talks in Islamabad between senior officials from the two sides on conventional and nuclear confidence building measures (CBMs). The talks, part of the peace process, resumed earlier this ...
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