Srinagar, September 01:Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Wednesday refuted rumours about missing of 60 youth in Kashmir Valley amid Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
Quoting IGP, the official tweet handler of Kashmir Police Zone wrote ” Some SocialMedia platforms are running that 60 youth have gone missing from different parts of the Kashmir Valley amid the taliban takeover of Afghanistan. This is totally #fake news: IGP Kashmir, reads the tweets.
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday registered an FIR after a communally sensitive video went viral on social media, officials said.
A few people were detained for allegedly sharing the video, they said, adding that the clip showed the skin of a bovine.
Considering that the clip could disturb communal harmony in the area, an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the law at Kishtwar Police Station and a few suspects were detained for questioning, they said.
After preliminary investigation, it surfaced that the video was reportedly shot near a nullah in Palmar area of Kishtwar.—(PTI)
New Delhi: In the first formal and publicly acknowledged contact, Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai on Tuesday and conveyed India’s concerns that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the discussions also focused on the safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan and the travel of Afghan nationals, especially members of minority communities to India.
The meeting took place at the Indian embassy in Doha at the request of the Taliban side and came two weeks after the outfit seized control of Kabul.
The MEA said the Taliban representative assured the ambassador that “these issues” would be positively addressed.
“Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha. The meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side,” the MEA said in a statement.
It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan and the travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit India also came up.
“Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.
People familiar with India’s ties in Afghanistan said it was the first publicly acknowledged contact between the two sides in over at least two decades.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, replying to questions during his weekly briefing in the last few months on whether India has reached out to the Taliban, has been maintaining that New Delhi is in touch with all stakeholders.
It was learnt that India had opened a channel of communication with the Taliban but it was never acknowledged officially.
The meeting between Mittal and Stanekzai took place hours after the US completed the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, ending its 20-year-long military campaign in the country.
The last American aircraft left the Kabul airport in the early hours of Tuesday.
On Saturday, Stanekzai, in a clear overture, described India as an important country in the region and said the Taliban wants to maintain Afghanistan’s trade, economic and political relations with it.
“We attach great importance to our trade, economic and political relations with India and want to maintain that relation,” he had said.
“We also need to keep the air trade open,” the Taliban leader was quoted as saying by Pakistani media outlet Independent Urdu.
He was referring to the air corridor between India and Afghanistan that was established to boost trade between the two countries in view of Pakistan’s denial to allow transit access.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on August 20 held talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on the Afghan crisis during a stopover in Doha on his way back home from a four-day visit to the US.
Doha has been the venue for the intra-Afghan peace talks and the Gulf country has emerged as a crucial player in facilitating the Afghan peace process.
Political leaders of the Taliban have been residing in Qatar for years.
In September last year, an Indian delegation attended the inaugural ceremony of the intra-Afghan negotiations featuring various stakeholders including the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha. Jaishankar had joined it through a video conference.
Meanwhile, a high-level group comprising Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval and a number of other senior officials is focusing on India’s immediate priorities in Afghanistan following the drawdown of American forces from the country.
Official sources said on Tuesday that the group has been meeting regularly over the last few days following a direction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India’s immediate priorities include the safe return of its nationals still in Afghanistan, bringing back the Afghan nationals who stood by New Delhi and ensuring that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism directed at it.
“In view of the evolving situation in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Modi recently directed that a high-level group comprising of External Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser and senior officials focus on the immediate priorities of India,” said a source.
“It is seized of issues pertaining to the safe return of stranded Indians, the travel of Afghan nationals (especially minorities) to India, and assuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used in any manner for terrorism directed against India,” it said.
India has been a key stakeholder in Afghanistan and it has invested nearly USD 3 billion in carrying out nearly 500 projects across Afghanistan.
India has been in touch with all major regional players including those in the Gulf region on the developments in Afghanistan.
The UN Security Council, under India’s presidency, on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
There have been mounting concerns in India over the possibility of rise in activities of various terror groups including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Budgam 31Aug : A line man of Power Development Department (PDD) was electrocuted to death in khanchtipora village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tue afternoon
that the deceased, who has been identified as Mohmad Amin Bhat resident of sadipora Beeewa, was repairing an electric HT line at Khanchtipira khag on Tue afternoon when he came in contact with a HT live wire resulting into an electric shock.
He said that the lineman was shifted to SDH Beerwa where he was declared as brought dead.
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 31: According to Director Floriculture Department Kashmir, several gardens and parks taken over from Jammu and Kashmir Bank by the Department of Floriculture, Kashmir shall be thrown open for visitors from 1st September 2021.
These parks and gardens included Hikers Park, Pahalgam; Lidder view Park, Pahalgam; Gulistan Wazir Bagh Park; Rani Bagh Park; Darashikow Park, Bijbehara; Padshahi Bagh Park, Bijbehara in Anantnag district; Shaheed Park in Pulwama District; Badamwari Park; Iqbal Park in Srinagar district and Gulnar Park in Baramulla District.
All the visitors to these Gardens & Parks are requested to follow Covid SOPs in letter and spirit.
Srinagar, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that the Government of India is committed to hold Assembly elections in J&K Union Territory soon after the Delimitation Commission (DC) will complete its exercise.
“In the August 15 speech, the Prime Minister Narendera Modi stated that the Delimitation Commission was working on a fast-track basis. Apart from that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already stated on the floor of the house that statehood will be granted to J&K at an appropriate time,” the LG said addressing a press conference on the side-lines of a function at SKICC here on the banks of famous Dal Lake, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The LG said that soon after the DC will complete its exercise, Assembly elections will be held in J&K. “As far as the dates of elections, it’s the prerogative of the Election Commission of India,” he said.
Pertinently, the LG said that the number of Assembly seats will go up from existing 87 to 94 in J&K. Interestingly, during its visit to J&K, the Delimitation Commission members had stated that the process of delimitation was not a mere athematic. Replying to a query, whether there was a possibility of any impact on J&K in the wake of Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the LG said that the foreign minister has already made a speech in the Parliament over the issue and people should stick to that—(KNO)
Srinagar, Aug 31 : National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Tuesday claimed that his party will sweep assembly elections in J&K whenever polls are held and “we will form the next government”.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at SKICC here, Dr Farooq while replying to a query about whether NC was preparing for the upcoming Assembly polls, said: “We will sweep and win elections….you see…I am saying it with authority as NC is the biggest party in J&K.”
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the NC chief said that Covid pandemic has hit development as well as employment opportunities in J&K. “You can see for yourself whether the situation has improved post Article 370 or deteriorated. I won’t talk about it much. If I say anything, they (BJP) would say I being in opposition has started targeting them. So let people judge themselves what has changed and what has not,” he said.
On Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, he said there will surely be an effect of the development taking place in Afghanistan. “Our neighbouring countries are in distress. I don’t know which country will face more impact of the Taliban take over. We have Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Russia as our neighbor. Who knows whether the US would face more impact from Taliban take over. I can’t say, but yes, there will surely be an impact of the Afghan situation on the world,” Dr Farooq said.
About Sarpanchs security in Kashmir, he said Sarpanchs and Panchs besides other leaders are facing life threats as recently many of them belonging to BJP and one of them who was affiliated with the Apni Party were killed. “There has to be some security for them. BJP lost eight leaders in recent attacks,” the NC chief said—(KNO)
Washington: America’s 20-year-old military presence in Afghanistan has ended, President Joe Biden announced, hours after the United States withdrew all of its soldiers from the war-ravaged country.
“Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended,” he said, thanking armed forces for their execution of the dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled — in the early hours of Tuesday (August 31) – with no further loss of American lives.
Biden said he will address the nation on Tuesday. “For now, I will report that it was the unanimous recommendation of the Joint Chiefs and of all of our commanders on the ground to end our airlift mission as planned. Their view was that ending our military mission was the best way to protect the lives of our troops, and secure the prospects of civilian departures for those who want to leave Afghanistan in the weeks and months ahead.”
The president said he has asked the Secretary of State to lead the continued coordination with US international partners to ensure safe passage for any Americans, Afghan partners and foreign nationals who want to leave Afghanistan.
This will include work to build on the UN Security Council Resolution that sent the clear message of what the international community expects the Taliban to deliver on moving forward, notably freedom of travel, he added.
“The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments. It will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan and coordination with partners in the region to reopen the airport allowing for continued departure for those who want to leave and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan,” Biden said.
He urged all Americans to join him in “grateful prayer for three things”.
“First, for our troops and diplomats who carried out this mission of mercy in Kabul and at tremendous risk with such unparalleled results: an airlift that evacuated tens of thousands more people than any imagined possible”.
“Second, to the network of volunteers and veterans who helped identify those needing evacuation, guide them to the airport, and provide support along the way. And third, to everyone who is now – and who will – welcome our Afghan allies to their new homes around the world, and in the United States.”
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden stands by his decision to bring troops home from Afghanistan.
“Because if he had not, his view and the view of many experts in military out there is we would have sent tens of thousands, potentially — or thousands, at least — more troops back into harm’s way, risking more lives and more people to fight a war the Afghans were not willing to fight themselves. Nothing has changed in that regard,” she said.
“Our current plan is not to have an ongoing presence in Afghanistan as of September 1st, but we will have means and mechanisms of having diplomats on the ground, being able to continue to process out those applicants and facilitate passage of other people who want to leave Afghanistan. We will have more details for that, I expect, in the coming days,” she added. PTI
SRINAGAR, AUG 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the government is closely monitoring the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and is taking steps to ensure that anti-India forces use developments there to promote cross-border terrorism in India. Don’t take advantage
Delivering a talk on national security as part of the late Balramji Das Tandon lecture series, the Defense Minister said that development in Afghanistan posed new security challenges. He said the government was committed to ensuring the safety of Indians in Afghanistan.
“The safety of Indians is a matter of concern for the government. We also do not want the anti-India forces to take advantage of the evolving Afghan situation for cross-border terrorism.
The Indian security establishment has expressed concern over the spread of terrorism from Afghanistan to Jammu and Kashmir via Pakistan after the takeover of the Taliban. Last week, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat said that India is concerned about terrorist activities in Afghanistan spreading in the country after the takeover and had contingency plans in place to deal with the scenario.
On 25 August, Rawat, the country’s most senior military commander, said that India feared the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, but its rapid pace was astonishing.
The Taliban captured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on 15 August, rapidly capturing most of the country’s major cities.
In an assessment as recently as last month, the Indian side concluded that the Taliban would shift their operations from rural areas to capture urban centers and provincial capitals by the end of August, prompting the withdrawal of US forces. After completion of. . The Indian side also expected air support for Afghan security forces from the US if the Taliban entered urban areas. Assessments made by both the Indian and Afghan sides also suggested that fighting would continue for at least two to three months, until the onset of winter.
Srinagar, Aug 30: Warning against not adhering to the COVID-19 appropriate behavior, experts on Monday said that all people, even those fully vaccinated must follow all the precautionary measures to avoid the third wave and save precious life.
With the positivity virus graph on decline, people across the Kashmir valley are seen roaming at the busiest places without masks and not adhering to the social distancing norms to keep the virus at bay.
Medical experts have warned against the possible third wave in Jammu and Kashmir and are continuously advising people to follow all the precautionary measures to avoid its intensity.
Notably, the government has started a vaccination drive in all the areas of the Kashmir valley including the door-to-door service to fight the deadly Coronavirus .
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) valley’s well-known pulmonologist Dr Khursheed said that if people don’t follow the necessary precautions the virus will spread.
“Even though the vaccination is going on, people need to maintain appropriate behavior to avoid its further spread. Even those fully vaccinated need to adhere to all the necessary precautions,” Khursheed said. “We only have two pivotal things to fight against this virus which include vaccination and necessary precautions.”
Another senior health official wishing not to be named said that it’s very vital to follow the precautionary measures to fight the possible third wave and stop it from further spreading and consuming human lives.
He said that the virus has already left a huge impact on human life and mental health.
The health authorities in the valley have so far vaccinated a total of 4,001,041 individuals against the virus while the drive is ongoing across the valley even at the farthest places—(KNO)