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The United States has accused China of escalating border tension with India and other neighbours by trying to take benefit of these countries busy fighting coronavirus pandemic.

PTI

The United States is talking to both India and China to help them resolve their ongoing border tensions, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

“It’s a very tough situation. We’re talking to India. We’re talking to China. They’ve got a big problem there,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House before boarding Marine 1 on his way to his first post-COVID19 election rally in Oklahoma.

“They’ve come to blows, and we’ll see what happens. We’ll try and help them out,” Mr. Trump said when asked about his assessment of the situation between India and China.

Over the past few days, the entire Trump Administration has rallied behind India against the illegitimate incursions of the Chinese Army into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

As many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in fierce clashes against Chinese intruders into Galwan Valley in Ladakh early this week. Indians, according to U.S. intelligence sources, killed more than 35 Chinese soldiers during the skirmish.

The United States has accused China of escalating border tension with India and other neighbours by trying to take benefit of these countries busy fighting coronavirus pandemic.

“The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) has escalated border tensions with India, the world’s most populous democracy. It’s militarising the South China Sea and illegally claiming more territory there, threatening vital sea lanes,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, in a major speech on China a day earlier.

Srinagar: The patients, who are not able to go to government hospitals fearing that they may catch the coronavirus, are allegedly denied timely treatment by doctors at the private clinics.

All the major hospitals in Srinagar have been designated as the Covid-19 specific hospitals and the patient rush is on the private hospitals that are operational across the Valley.

Huge number of pregnant women, patients with chronic liver disease, Kidney issues, hypertension and diabetes are facing difficulties to get appointment in the private hospitals and the private clinics.

Hameeda, a patient, who was diagnosed with liver issue, was advised by one of his relatives to consult a gastroenterologist Dr Showkat Zargar. However, since past two days, all the efforts to get an appointment failed.

One of the relatives of Hameeda, said that despite repeated attempts, Dr Showkat didn’t respond to the phone calls and instead replied to a watsapp message only to say that there is another number where “patient is supposed to get the appointment.”

And when call was made on the second number, a female voice came saying, “call tomorrow, Dr Sahab is busy today. And when call was made tomorrow again, there was again the same reply that Dr Sahab is busy.”

“These doctors are looting the patients in the name of quality treatment. But patients with complications, who are not able to go to government hospitals fearing that they may catch the virus, are denied treatment,” allege Adil Ahmed, Hameeda’s son.

When News agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) try to contact Dr Showkat Zargar his phone was switched off. But his comments will be updated once he will be available.
Hameeda is not the only patient, but there are scores like her, who have been facing the same fate.

Irshada, another woman, with kidney ailment, wanted an appointment with Dr Bilal Khan. Despite repeated attempts, she couldn’t get it. “It was after the intervention of a relative who knows Dr Bilal closely, I got the appointment,” she said.

However Dr Bilal said that there are clear cut directions from the government to treat lees patients in the current covid situation. “Yes patient’s might be facing problems to get an appointment given the fact that I treat only 15 to 20 patients daily here in the Shifa hospital,” he told KINS.

Many patients rued that at the private clinics, doctors who are not authorized for private practice, are looting people in the name of quality medicine. At many private hospitals, there is brazen violation of Covid-19 guidelines and social distancing is just for the namesake.(KINS)

Srinagar: Authorities have directed district development commissioners to identify “best performers” who are forefront while fighting against COVID-19 in Kashmir.

There are some doctors, nurses, paramedics, media personnel, NGO, and people from various other departments who are on the front while fighting COVID-19.

To encourage these people, authorities have directed district development commissioners to identify “best performers, champions” who are fighting against the deadly disease.

“All district development commissioners shall identify them so they are given certificates of appreciation and a medal may also be given out of the available fund. Besides the number of COVID-19 warriors identified for providing certificate and medal will be doubled because increase in workforce because of increased number of cases and they can be also called on the Independence Day ceremony for awards,” reads a government order, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The government has directed officers that there should be a common yardstick about the radius of the Red Zone area. “However, the concerned district development commissioners shall take on case to case basis keeping in view of various guidelines issued by government from time to time,” it reads.

The government has asked district deputy commissioners to involve religious leaders to educate people about Covid-19.

“Involvement of community leaders, teachers, and mohalla heads is required to make people aware of Covid-19 prevention. Sufficient use of social media platforms and broadcasting of local language talk shows of experts on radio and Television will also prove beneficial,” the order reads.

“All the deputy commissioners shall ensure the active functioning of village level committees who shall participate in the screening of ILIs, immunization activities, home quarantine and IEC activities related to Covid 19. All the deputy commissioners shall ensure VLCs and BDCs work smoothly for effective Management of Covid-19,” it reads.

To reduce the load on administrative quarantine facilities, the government has directed the deputy commissioners to create such facilities at the village level as well.

“Quarantine facilities shall be created at the village level in schools, panchayats, and government buildings in consultation and cooperation with the locals of the village through VLCs,” the order said.

Baramulla: At least three civilians got injured in intense shelling while several residential houses were damaged in an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Hajipeer , Nambla and Rustum post sectors in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police officials said.

They said that Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing small arms, mortars and other weapons this afternoon. “A few mortar shells exploded near the residential houses injuring two civilians,” the officials said, adding the injured civilians were identified as Ahmed Shiekh (60, Parveena Begum, 40, and Maqbool Mangral (20). “The injured were immediately evacuated to nearby primary health centre for the first-aid where their condition is stated as stable,” the officials said.

Defence officials said that Indian army responded effectively to Pakistani action and a befitting response was being given. Officials said that there are reports pouring in that a few residential houses have also suffered damage. “Once the shelling would stop, teams will go to the spot to assess the damage,” they said.

The intense shelling between the two sides triggered panic in almost a dozen villages close to LoC in Uri as many residents were seen running for safety besides taking their livestock to the safer places as well.

Shakeel Ahmed, a resident of Uri told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) over phone that that people in his village woke up to intense shelling from across and when the same was responded by the army, it looked like a war like situation.

“We took our livestock to safety and asked the people of our village to stay indoors and take safety precautions. Since there are a very few underground bunkers, people assembled in one place and took refuge in them,” Ahmed said, adding that fear gripped children and women as none of them ventured out of their homes since morning while the livestock too was locked in cowsheds and other places.

This year, a record number of 1640 ceasefire violations have been recorded in J&K on LoC where in Pakistan has used small arms to mortal shells besides indiscriminate gunfire, as per security officials. “Every time Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation, the army has given them a befitting reply by retaliating effectively,” a defence official said.

The KNO recently reported that many border residents in Kashmir are planning to move to safer places if the situation doesn’t improve in the coming days. Majority of people had complained that there was no progress on construction of community bunkers, which could also be a major reason for their migration from their native villages—(KNO)

An official said a heavy exchange of fire was reported on Saturday afternoon

Two civilians were injured in firing and shelling by the Pakistan Army at forward posts in the latest ceasefire violation in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday.

An official said a heavy exchange of fire was reported on Saturday afternoon in Uri’s Haji Pir Sector.

“The forward posts of Nambla and Rustum were targeted with small arms fire and artillery”, he said.

The injured were identified as Ahmed Sheikh and Maqbool Mangral. They were shifted to a local hospital and their condition was stated to be stable.

With inputs from The Hindu

This comes in wake of statements by Congress, accusing Modi of being in denial on Chinese intrusions and reasons behind death of 20 Indian soldiers.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday clarified that no part of India’s territory was under Chinese occupation, but that the statement made to the All-Party Meet (APM) was also a reference that the state of affairs was a “consequence of the bravery of our soldiers” pointing to the June 15 violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in East Ladakh that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The clarification came in the wake of statements by the Congress party, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being in denial on Chinese intrusions and the reasons behind the death of Indian soldiers.

“Attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the Prime Minister to the APM yesterday,” said a press release from the PMO.

“Prime Minister was clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control [LAC]. In fact he specifically emphasised that in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges, Indian forces now decisively counter any violations of LAC. The APM was also informed that the Chinese forces have come in much larger strength to the LAC and that the Indian response is commensurate. As regards transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on June 15th arose because Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such action,” the statement said.

The focus of Mr. Modi’s remarks to the APM discussions were the events of June 15 that led to the loss of lives of 20 Indian soldiers. “The Prime Minister’s observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces,” it stated.

“What is Indian territory is clear from the map of India. This government is strongly and resolutely committed to that. In so far as there is some illegal occupation, the APM was briefed in detail how over the last 60 years more than 43,000 square kilometres has been yielded under cirumstances with which the country is well aware. It was also made clear that this government will not allow any unilateral change of the LAC,” said the statement, also taking aim at the Congress.

The statement did acknowledge that the overall sentiment of the APM was of unequivocal support to the government and the armed forces at a time of national crisis, and that the “unfortunate and unnecessary controversy” being created to “lower morale” will not be allowed to undermine the confidence of people.

Nearly 20 presidents of mainline Opposition parties met with the Prime Minister at the APM, and expressed support to the government and the Army and asked for the restoration of status quo ante at the borders.

With inputs from The Hindu