Category: Union Territory

Pathankot: Army chief Bipin Rawat on Monday said while the government’s policy was that those triggering terrorism in Kashmir should be neutralised, the Army’s focus was to ensure that the Kashmiri youths do not join militancy.
The Army chief said infiltration was going on from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The government has a clear cut policy that it will not allow terrorists to create violence. Anybody who creates violence will be neutralised,” he told reporters here.
Rawat, who was on a two-day visit to Pathankot, presided over a conclave of disabled soldiers here.
“Our focus is terrorists in the valley. The basic aim of the Army is to ensure that young boys do not join militancy,” he said.
Rawat said the Army’s aim was that it approached the youth’s family and told them that they could ask the youth to surrender as it was still giving them a chance.
“Then if the people still do not behave and continue with violence, then the alternative left (with us) is to neutralise them,” the Army chief said.
Asked whether India is following a tit-for-tat policy towards Pakistan, which was resulting in many casualties, Rawat said the policy keeps on changing.
“See we have to keep changing the policy…We have keep doing something different. It has to be reviewed so that we keep ahead of adversary,” he said, adding that it had to be more than a tit-for-tat policy.
He said what the Indian Army was doing along the LoC was not being put into public domain and they were doing more than Pakistan.
“We do not want blow our trumpet unnecessarily. Whenever they do something, it is given a befitting reply. Whenever they are doing something, it is a reaction. They don’t take initiative. They know we are strong and we can take strong action,” he said.
The Army chief said Pakistan kept sending terrorists to cause damage and ultimately it led to violence against the people.
“Kashmiris are our people. We have to look after them,” he said, adding Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions were part of the country and violence would not be allowed there.
On sniping, Rawat said it was a regular affair and there was nothing new in it.
“Pakistan have got snipers and India also has snipers. It is subject to exposure of any soldier. Our drills should be good and we have to ensure that we do not give them any opportunity to snipe at us,” he said.
On former chief minister Omar Abdullah and Kashmiri politicians advocating for dialogue instead of muscular policy, Rawat said the government had a clear policy that it would not allow terrorist to create violence. He said it had already initiated dialogue through an interlocutor with the people.
“The government has tasked an interlocutor to speak to the people in valley. Dineshwar Sharma is saying that he is open to everybody and those interested in talking to him can come up and speak to him,” he added.
“I don’t understand who is saying talks are not going on. Sharma is the government’s interlocutor. If the people are not listening to him, what can he do,” he asked.
He said they were holding indirect talks to see if they could approach stakeholders.
“What makes us think that necessary action by the government is not being taken to bring people into mainstream”, Rawat questioned. He said infiltration attempts were being made from across the border but the Army was out to foil them. – PTI

New Delhi, November 12: Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to have a popular government anytime soon as the central government may recommend a spell of President’s rule at the expiry of Governor’s rule on December 19, official sources said.

Under the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no provision for extension of Governor’s rule. The state is under central rule since June 19 after the BJP withdrew support from the then Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government.

The six-month term of Governor’s rule comes to an end on December 19.

Therefore, for the extension of the central rule in Jammu and Kashmir, a spell of President’s rule would be necessary as there may not be an elected government, a source privy to the development said.

A popular government is unlikely to be formed in Jammu and Kashmir anytime soon under the current assembly, the source said.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had told PTI last month that he was in favour of holding early elections in the state as he did not think a popular government can be formed out of the present House.

No party enjoys a majority in the 87-member Assembly, in which the PDP has 28 MLAs, the BJP 25 and the National Conference 15.

President’s rule can be imposed after the Union Cabinet, headed by the prime minister, makes a recommendation to the President to this effect following a report of the governor.

If President’s rule is imposed, it will be effectively a “fresh spell” of central rule even though it would be like an extension of the current spell of Governor’s rule, the source said.

Under such circumstances, there is no need for the central government to get parliamentary nod for extension of central rule beyond December 19.

Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir is imposed under Section 92 of the state’s Constitution, President’s rule is imposed under 356 of the Constitution.

Therefore, practically, the central government would not be required to get the approval from both Houses of Parliament for extension of central rule in Jammu and Kashmir if its rule is extended beyond December 19, another source said. (PTI)

He complained of chest pain, Dir SKIMS says his health condition is better

Srinagar, Nov 12: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani was on Monday shifted to SKIMS Soura for medical check-up.
Hurriyat (G) leaders informed KNS that Geelani is fine and that he had to undergo some medical tests and calibration of pacemaker.
“After complaining of chest pain, Geelani was shifted to SKIMS for medical checkup,” he said.
Director SKIMS, Dr Omar Javaid Shah confirmed to KNS that Geelani was admitted in the institute after he had complained of chest pain.
He said that Geelani’s pacemaker battery has to be changed, saying that he is stable and his health condition is better. (KNS)

U Government forces on Monday morning launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in twin villages of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
An official said that a joint team of army’s 14 RR unit and the state police launched searches in Suribal locality of Sumlar village.

Another cordon and search operation was launched in Pazalpora village by the forces.
“The CASO was launched by Army’s 31 RR unit and the state police, ” said the official.
He said the searches were launched following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
Door-to-door searches were on when last reports came.

‘Pakistan’s decision of releasing 20 stamps on Kashmir didn’t help’

London: Kashmir youth are perhaps more alienated today than they have been since the early 1990s, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said.
“The youth of Jammu Kashmir are perhaps more alienated today than they have been since the early 1990s; when educated youngsters and people with secure jobs are joining the ranks of militancy. And that’s a very worrying sign,” said the former chief minister, who was in London to participate in an event organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) around changing the narratives within the India-Pakistan bilateral context.
“At the moment, it is about hoping that some smaller corrective measures can be taken now to reduce the levels of alienation, with a higher degree of engagement once we are through with this election cycle,” he said.
The National Conference (NC) vice president lamented the “vast gap” between the Government of India (GoI) and its representative in Jammu Kashmir, Governor Satya Pal Malik, and the youth of J&K, which needs to be narrowed urgently.
He said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan government must do some soul searching on India’s legitimate concerns to make way for a process of engagement on Kashmir.
Omar said while a one-off summit-based approach was not the answer, any hopes of a proper dialogue on the issue, “insulated from forces that are inimical to a dialogue on both sides of the border”, would have to wait to be realised at the end of India’s general election cycle in May 2019.
“While we are going through our election process, I think Pakistan needs to do a bit of soul searching in terms of addressing legitimate concerns that India has,” he said.
The former chief minister said the Pakistan government’s decisions such as letting Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed “roam free” had proved a setback to the much-needed confidence building measures.
“The recent decision of the Imran Khan government to release 20 stamps on Kashmir does not help, when instead of confidence building measures we have steps that break confidence,” he said on the sidelines of the event in London on Friday.

The release of some 20 postal stamps, glorifying Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani and others, by Pakistan was one of the reasons India cited to call off a proposed meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York in September.
“Pakistan is our neighbour; whatever concerns we have with Pakistan, we have accepted that war is not an option. So, the only option available to us is talks. We need to resolve our differences through dialogue. But for that, at some stage, Pakistan will also have to take India’s concerns on board,” Omar said.
A S Dulat, former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Special Director and former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief who was among the participants at the IISS event, also expressed hope that dialogue would be re-initiated between India and Pakistan soon.
“We should talk and never stop talking. I remain optimistic on a solution in Kashmir,” said Dulat, who pointed to former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula dating back to 2006 as a “good starting point”.
“If that agreement had been worked out between (Gen Pervez) Musharraf and Manmohan Singh, my assessment is that we would have had at least 15 years of peace in Kashmir,” he said.
Congress spokesman Manish Tewari explained that the aim of the London event was to explore the building blocks of a narrative which can correct perceptions that India and Pakistan have about each other.
“There is a feeling that confidence building measures and the creation of a positive narrative have to precede conflict resolution. It is a step by step process and every incremental step would then add up to a whole,” he said.
Other speakers at the event, including Pakistan-based ‘The News’ daily Editor Aamir Ghauri, proposed exchange programmes for Indian and Pakistani journalists and a free flow of people on both sides of the border to foster greater understanding. PTI

Srinagar: Would it snow again coming week? Following is the updated Ziraat Times weather outlook for the coming five-day period between Sunday and Thursday in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
At this stage the available data does not indicate a heavy snowfall in the plains of Kashmir valley. However, like the previous spell, in this spell too, Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Zanaskar valley, Kargil areas, Thajiwas glacier area, upper reaches of Dachigam National Park, Aru and Baltal would receive continuous and heaviest snowfall between 11-14 November, Ziraat Times interpretation of the available weather parameters indicates.
In Srinagar and plains of Kashmir valley while heavy rainfall is very likely on Tuesday and Wednesday, at this stage snowfall is not confirmed.
Sunday outlook:
While Sonamarg, Zanaskar and Kargil areas are likely to receive snowfall on Sunday, some upper areas of Pirpanjal like Tatakuti, Tosamaidan, Sunset Peak would receive light to moderate snowfall on Sunday.
Heavy to moderate snowfall on Sunday is also likely in Gund range, Kargil and Zanaskar valley, Kohohoi Glacier area, Baltal, Chandanwari, north Kashmir mountains of Kupwara district and Bandipora, Harmukh mountains, Ziraat Times analysis suggests.
Light rainfall in some valley plains is also expected.
Monday outlook:
Analysis of various weather parameters by Ziraat Times indicates that again heavy snowfall is likely in Sonamarg, Gund, Kargil and Zanaskar valley, Kohohoi Glacier area, Baltal, Chandanwari, Margan valley and all peaks in and around the Great Lakes. Some South Kashmir areas would receive rainfall as well.
Would it snow on Tuesday and Wednesday in Kashmir plains like the previous week?
At this stage analysis of the available data by Ziraat Times suggests snowfall is likely in Sindh-Gund valley of Ganderbal, Zabarwan mountains in Srinagar, upper karewas of Rafiabad, upper karewas of Kupwara, Handwara, Kandi Baramulla and upper reaches of Bandpora district, including the Razdan Pass.
All mountain areas of Lolab valley, upper Tral-Shikargah areas, Kapran in South Kashmir, Gool-Gulabgarh areas of Ramban, Banihal, Aharbal areas, and Kishtwar and Bhaderwah mountains are also likely to receive snowfall.
In Srinagar and plains in Kashmir valley while heavy rainfall is very likely on Tuesday and Wednesday, at this stage snowfall is not confirmed.
Some rainfall is likely in Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua districts during this period.
The weather system would shift to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhad on late Wednesday and Thursday, resulting in snowfall in the mountains there.
Snowfall activity is not going to be as widespread in northern Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan region, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as the previous snowfall on 1-3 November, available data suggests.
Thursday:
On Thursday some scattered snowfall and rainfall is likely in South Kashmir high mountains of the Pirpanjal and outer Himalayas.

Farmers and orchardists may plan their activities accordingly.

Ziraat Times Weather Monitoring

Handwara: One Militant killed after a brief exchange of gunfire took place between militants and Army at Handwara bypass here in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday. Sources told KNO that patrolling party of Army was fired upon by the militants in the area. “The fire was retaliated triggering off a brief exchange of gunshots”. Official Sources said that the exchange of fire continued for some time and in brief exchange of gunfire one Militant has been killed and arms and ammunition has been recovered from his possession. However the identification of Militant is yet to be ascertained.(KNO)

Jammu: After a gap of about 30 years, Kashmir Valley is going to have a first cinema theatre soon, with Governor Satya Pal Malik giving a go ahead for the proposal.
As per sources privy to this development, Governor Malik has given his nod for the establishment of a cinema hall in state’s summer capital Srinagar. The process of bidding is likely to commence within days.
There are reports that the Governor has been expressing much interest in the opening of a cinema theatre in the Valley so that the youth who have no means of recreation could enjoy the latest Bollywood movies and spend quality time with peers.
“The process is likely to begun within days and for this purpose, many affluent people were called so that the idea of having a high tech cinema hall is discussed and deliberated upon in detail,” says an official.
He added that the Governor soon after assuming office in the state was exploring ways to provide means of entertainment to the Valley youth who have been reeling under the volatile times for years. For this purpose, besides a sport stadium of international level, cinema hall is coming in Kashmir after the gap of almost 30 years.
The cinema owners in Kashmir attempted to reopen theatres in 1999 when the then government offered them interest-free loans. There were three cinema halls which accepted the offer and attempted to re-open the halls. They later had to close down their businesses once again after the militants carried attacks.
On September 24, 1999, a grenade exploded outside one cinema hall located in the city centre, when the viewers were coming out after the maiden show. One person from Lasjan area namely Muhammad Hafeez Rather died and a dozen others were wounded. The theatres were abruptly shut again.
Before the outbreak of militancy in Kashmir, cinema halls were one of the big businesses in Kashmir valley. There were nine single screen cinemas in Srinagar. But at present most of them have either been converted into the forces garrisons or shopping malls. Some of the cinema halls like Sheeraz in the old city have been transformed into security camps. The Khayam is now a heart institute while the Naaz has been replaced by a mammoth shopping plaza. The skeleton of Palladium Theatre in historic Lal Chowk houses security bunkers. It served as a makeshift office for the police officers deployed in the area.
The present generation of Kashmiris has seen cinemas in the movies that too from the pirated DVDs and CDs available on the roadside pavements. Only the affluent people from Kashmir who could afford to travel outside Kashmir take kids to cinemas to show them how a movie theatre looks like.