Category: Union Territory

The creation of Ladakh as a Union Territory, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, is being used by the Chinese as a pretext for the breakdown of existing border agreements.

Indian Express

New Delhi’s hopes for an early resolution to the crisis in Ladakh through diplomatic channels, as happened during the earlier crises, have been hampered by lack of any immediate leverage with Beijing.

Moreover, the creation of Ladakh as a Union Territory, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, is being used by the Chinese as a pretext for the breakdown of existing border agreements.

The Chinese intransigence on not engaging on Pangong Tso, after having altered the status quo there, has led to fears that it is working on a ‘two-step forward, one-step backward’ strategy to make net gains in border areas.

The Sunday Express spoke to three diplomats – all former Indian ambassadors to China – who were involved in diplomatic negotiations with Beijing during the crisis at Depsang in 2013, Chumar in 2014 and Doklam in 2017. They said that in each of these cases, there was an event or a visit, the success of which was important to Beijing, and this provided India immediate leverage during negotiations with the Chinese to resolve the crisis. Unlike then, the current negotiations are likely to be lengthy, leading to a protracted standoff along the Line of Actual Control.

During the 2014 Chumar crisis, it was the first visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to India after the election of a new government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lending the event great significance.

In the 2017 Doklam crisis, resolution was aided by the BRICS summit to be hosted by the Chinese government which did not want it happening under the shadow of a border standoff between the two largest BRICS members.

In 2013, India was to be the first foreign stop for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang after taking office.

In October 2017, the then Foreign Secretary, now External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar had told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs: “Both sides were obviously conscious of the importance of de-escalating the situation and ending the face-off before the BRICS Summit in Xiamen which was scheduled for 4-5 September 2017.

BRICS is a forum where India and China work closely together and obviously, neither side wish to see their leaders meeting at Xiamen under the cloud of Doklam incident.”

This time, the Indian side, an official familiar with the ongoing diplomatic talks in Beijing said, has been surprised by the breakdown of agreements and protocols signed between the two countries since 1993 for the management of the border – the 1993 agreement between Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Chinese Premier Li Peng, in which India accepted the concept of the LAC, forms the basis of all further negotiations and agreements between the two countries.

This is seen to be linked to the Chinese reaction to the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K and creation of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory in August last year. Beijing argued that New Delhi had violated border agreements. It now seems to be using it as a pretext for unilaterally altering the status quo on the Ladakh border.

In its statement last August, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, referring to border agreements, stated, “We urge India to be cautious in its words and deeds on the border issue, strictly abide by the relevant agreements reached between the two sides, and avoid taking actions that further complicate the border issue.”

In a closed-door informal session of the UN Security Council on August 16 on the issue, the Chinese Permanent Representative in the UN argued that India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 challenged China’s sovereign interests and violated bilateral agreements on maintaining peace and stability in the border area.

On October 31, when Ladakh formally became a Union Territory, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang had referred to the bilateral treaties and the boundary dispute in his press briefing: “China urges the Indian side to earnestly respect Chinese territorial sovereignty, abide by our treaties and uphold peace and tranquility in the border areas and create favourable conditions for the proper settlement of boundary question”.

The matter got a new lease of life last Friday when Wang Xianfeng, press officer at the Chinese mission in Islamabad, tweeted an article by an influential Chinese scholar, Wang Shida of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR). CICIR is a Beijing­-based think-tank, affiliated to the Ministry of State Security.

In his article, Wang said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had conveyed his country’s position on the Ladakh issue to Jaishankar when he visited Beijing after abrogation of Article 370 last year. “India’s moves challenged China’s sovereign rights and interests and violated the agreement on maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas between the two countries,” the article quoted the Foreign Minister as having said, specifically mentioning the violation of the 1993 border agreement.

China’s refusal to talk about the Pangong Tso area after having altered the status quo there – it is engaging with the Indian side on the situation in the Hot Spring and Galwan Valley sectors — has led to fears that Beijing may be following its “two-step forward and one-step backward” strategy which would leave it with the net gain of one-step while sounding reasonable.

In Pangong Tso, the Chinese soldiers have come in eight kilometres, moving their usual deployment from Finger 8 to Finger 4 on the northern bank of the lake. This has curtailed the patrolling limits of Indian soldiers who used to go up to Finger 8 which India says denotes the LAC.

“The status quo has been altered by the Chinese in Pangong Tso unilaterally. Our NSA also spoke to his SR (Special Representative) counterpart in Beijing after the clashes in early May for restoration of status quo ante. That is our aim, but the Chinese side has not engaged so far,” an official familiar with the ongoing diplomatic talks in Beijing said.

Jammu: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday questioned the Congress over its opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 and its discreet silence over the provision that gave special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Article 370 was an “old stain” and it was done away the moment the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got the full majority, Rajnath Singh said while addressing the virtual ‘Jammu Jan Samvad rally’.

Singh said that by abrogating Article 370, BJP fulfilled its decade-old promise and is committed to the development and growth Jammu and Kashmir.

“We revoked it within 100 days in office at the blink of an eye. But I would like to ask why the Congress, which had a full majority but had supported Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, remained discreetly silent on it,” Rajnath Singh said.

“When we revoked it in August last year, the Congress called it an attack on secularism. But may I ask the Congress why the word ‘secularism’ remained absent from the preamble of the J&K Constitution?” he asked.

Singh pointed out that the discriminatory temporary provision was incorporated through an ordinance and not Parliament.

“If Article 370 was so important then why didn’t the Congress make it a permanent provision and why it was kept as a temporary provision?” he asked.

Singh said that the so-called during ‘Azadi’ movement in Kashmir, Pakistani and ISIS flags were hoisted with impunity but now the Tricolor could be seen across the Kashmir Valley.

The defence minister said that with an end to Article 370 oppressed people like refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and west Pakistan and the Valmiki community got equal rights after more than 70 years of Independence.

“Today, I recall our visionary leader AB Vajpayee, who believed in Kashmiriyat, Jamhuriyat and Insaniyat. The BJP stands committed and today for us Kashmiriyat is Hazratbal shrine and Amarnath Baba,” he said.

Singh said that in the next five years the Narendra Modi-led government will bring a sea-change in Jammu and Kashmir’s image.

“The people of PoK will be envious of it. And, wait for some time PoK will demand to live with India and not with Pakistan. The day it happens our unanimous resolution of Parliament will also be fulfilled,” he said.

Srinagar: Pakistani troops on Sunday shelled mortars along the Line of Control in Rampur sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army, a defence spokesperson said.

This is the second ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in Rampur sector and the third in the north Kashmir district in the last three days.

“On 14 Jun 2020, in the morning hours, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked Ceasefire Violation (CFV) along the LoC in Rampur by firing mortars and other weapons,” defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said.

On Saturday, the Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in Kamalkote Sector in Uri area of the district. A 48-year-old woman was killed on Friday in a ceasefire violation along the LoC in Rampur sector of the district.

Akhtar Begum, wife of Zahoor Ahmad Chechi, was killed on the spot when her house at Batgran was hit by a shell. A 23-year-old woman was also injured in the incident.

Four residential houses and a mosque have been damaged in the shelling by Pakistani troops.

Several families have taken refuge either in underground safety bunkers or moved to safer places elsewhere in the Uri tehsil.

Poonch: An army soldier was killed and two others were injured in shelling by Pakistan along LoC at Kerni sector in Poonch district, officials said on Sunday.

A police official told GNS that during the shelling in Kerni sector, one army soldier, identified as Sepoy Luingambui Abonmei of 10 Asam regiment, was killed and two others, Lelienkothein Senghon and Tangsoik Kwianiungar, were injured.

Both the injured have been airlifted to Udhampur command hospital for advanced treatment, the official added. (GNS)

PTI

Srinagar: The National Conference on Saturday called for an end to skirmishes on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it is the people who continue to bear the brunt of escalating tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

“The flaring up of tensions between India and Pakistan along the LoC has made the lives of locals living there no less than a terrible nightmare, the situation there has remained as it is since long, making the lives of locals miserable,” senior NC leader and Member of Parliament from north Kashmir Muhammad Akbar Lone said here.

Lone said people living along the LoC are distressed over the continued shelling from across the border, which has resulted in the loss of lives and property.

“This has become an everyday affair now, but those who can actually stop it from happening are not doing enough. There is no substitute to talks and only dialogue between the two frosty and rival neighbours can bring an end to the border skirmishes. If dialogue could be employed as a medium to deescalate soaring up tensions with China, why can’t it be done with Pakistan?” he said.

The MP said the fallout of such skirmishes along the LoC is being excruciatingly felt by the people who along with their belongings and livestock have become cannon fodder of these hostilities.

“These skirmishes also have a chilling effect on the economic activities of the people, dwelling in border areas. Caught between the devil and the deep sea, they aren’t able to manage their household chores and look after their farms.

“Peace on the border is far more indispensable since any fall out has a direct impact on the daily lives of the locals. Ubiquitous tension on borders besides affecting the economic activities also causes mental trepidation to the elderly and children,” he said.

Calling for an end to the border skirmishes, Lone urged the government to take a review of stock positions of all essentials in the border areas.

He also asked the government to initiate work on all major developmental works in the areas flanking the LoC without any delay.

Srinagar: A Covid-19 asymptomatic patient suddenly developed breathlessness and died in the hospital this evening.

Official sources told News Agency KNT that a 60 year old patient from Nowgam Srinagar who was supposed to be discharged from the JVC SKIMS Bemina hospital tomorrow died of breathlessness this evening.

“The deceased patient admitted as asymptomatic Covid-19 on 5 June having underlying Diabetes, Hypertension and CKD suddenly became breathless at 8.00 pm today, developed unconsciousness and shifted to ICU,where he had hypertension. resuscitation,” said a medico.

The doctors tried their best, but couldn’t revive the patient.

His death was due to severe silent MI ( Heart Attack ) as the ECG was flat on screen.

The medico said that the patient was supposed to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow as his sample had been taken prior to his discharge. (KNT)

Srinagar: The share of travelers in Covid-19 positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has dropped from 45 percent to 36 percent, figures reveal.

As per data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), out of 4730 positive cases(till Friday) the number of travelers is 1709 which is 36.13 percent of the total positive cases.

In Kashmir out of 3633 total cases 815 are travelers which constitutes 22.43 percent of cases detected in the division. Furthermore, in Jammu division out of 1097 positive cases 894 are travelers which constitutes 81.49 percent of total cases detected in the division.

In Anantnag ,out of 483 cases, 30 are travelers which means share of travelers in district is just 6.2 percent while as out of 570 cases 220 are travelers in Kulgam which constitutes 38. 59 percent of total cases in detected in southern district.

In Srinagar out of 502 cases 186 are travelers which constitutes 37.05 percent of the total cases detected in the district while as out of 381 cases 278 were travelers in Kupwara which is 46.71 percent of the total cases.

In Baramulla the share of travelers is 11.11 percent, 11.15 percent in Bandipora, 4.8 percent in Shopian, 21.81 percent in Budgam, 15.25 percent in Ganderbal and 19.21 percent in Pulwama.

In Jammu districts the share of travellers in positive cases is 72.79 percent in Jammu district, 95.85 percent in Ramban, 89.93 percent in Kuthua, 59.47 percent in Udhampur, 90.36 percent in Samba, 89.32 percent in Poonch, 90 percent in Rajouri, 83.33 percent in Reasi, 88.81 percent in Kishtiwar and 71.42 percent in Doda.

Pertinently around 1 lakh 20 thousand residents of Jammu and Kashmir have been evacuated so far from different states, Union Territories besides other countries—(KNO)

Srinagar Man who was supposed to be discharged Tomorrow becomes 4th victim

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley on Saturday reported four more deaths due to covid-19, taking the death toll due to the disease to 57 in J&K—6 from Jammu and 51 from Valley.

The victims included a 74-year-old retired doctor and a 60-year-old from Srinagar, a 60-year-old resident from Shopian and a 75-year-old from Baramulla districts.

A 74-year-old retired doctor from Parraypora Srinagar died of covid-19 early Saturday morning at SKIMS Bemina here.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, told GNS that the patient was on treatment for Covid-19 from June 2 at the hospital. “He was intubated and on Ventilator,” he said, adding, “The Consultant and SR Critical Care were on spot managing the patient who could not survive despite all efforts.”

The deceased, Dr Untoo said, was suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Another patient, a 60-year-old man from Nowgam Srinagar who was admitted as asymptomatic Covid-19 on June 5 having underlying Diabetes, Hypertension and CKD suddenly became breathless at 8.00 pm today and developed unconsciousness, he said.

The elderly was shifted to ICU where he had hypotension, Dr Untoo said. “Resuscitation was tried as per protocol but the patient could not be revived and was declared dead.” He said that the patient was expected to be discharged on Sunday as his sample was taken today for testing prior to discharge.

Earlier, Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS told GNS that a 75-year-old man from Kathbagh died at the tertiary care hospital around 2:15 p.m. “He had underlying disease such as KCO, COPD, HTN andT2DM,” he said.

Professor Jan said the body was kept in the mortuary while the test report returned positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old resident from Shopian died at SMHS hospital here.

Dr Nazir Chowdhary, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, told GNS that the sexagenarian was admitted on June 11 and his swab sample was taken the next day.

“He had bilateral pneumonia and died today morning. Later, the result of the sample returned positive for the covid-19,” he added.

“He had bilateral pneumonia and died today morning. Later, the result of the sample returned positive for the covid-19,” he added.

So far Srinagar district with 14 deaths has the highest fatalities, followed by Baramulla 11, Kulgam eight, Anantnag six, five in Shopian, Kupwara and Jammu three each, two each in Pulwama and Budgam while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri. (GNS)

Leh: The Ladakh Union Territory on Saturday recorded highest single-day spike with 198 positive cases, thus taking the overall tally to 368.

As per the media bulletin released by the Directorate of Health Services UT Ladakh, as much as 198 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Kargil district of UT Ladakh. With this, the number of COVID-19 active cases in UT Ladakh has gone up to 368; 68 in Leh district and 300 in Kargil district. Six COVID-19 patients were discharged from COVID hospital Mahabodhi Leh today.

The bulletin, available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) also informed that of the total 68 active cases in Leh, 20 positive patients are admitted in COVID hospital while 48 positive cases are in home isolation.

Out of the total 300 active cases in Kargil district, 81 positive patients are admitted in COVID hospital, 111 positive cases are in home isolation while 108 positive patients are in COVID Care Centre (CCC). It also informs that till date 47 numbers of patients in Leh district and 21 in Kargil district were cured and discharged from COVID hospitals, the bulletin reads.

The bulletin informed that 38 samples were tested at COVID-19 Laboratory Chuchot Yokma yesterday; 28 samples of Leh district and 10 samples of Kargil district. 2 repeat positive sample reports of two COVID patients already admitted in COVID hospital Leh and 26 negative sample reports are of Leh district and 10 negative reports are of Kargil district.

The Health Department Leh received 534 sample reports yesterday; out of 534 total sample reports, 14 Negative sample reports are of Leh district. 198 Positive and 322 Negative sample reports are of Kargil district.

The bulletin also informed that the condition of all 368 active cases of COVID-19 in UT Ladakh is stable.

117 passengers and 192 drivers and helpers of 122 trucks/tankers and light motor vehicles were screened at Khaltsi check post yesterday. The vehicles were also sanitised.

The Health workers at Upshi check post screened 120 passengers yesterday including drivers and helpers who came to Leh in 53 tankers, 20 trucks and 04 light vehicles—(KNO)

Srinagar: At least 24 CRPF personnel tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Among the infected, 22 personnel (aged between 24 to 58 years) were from 94 Battalion CRPF Urnhall, besides one each—26-year-old and 31-year-old men from 40 and 80 battalions respectively.