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  • In five years, at least 8% females suffer pregnancy loss in JK: Survey

    Srinagar, Jul 20: In the past five years, at least eight percent of the female population in Jammu and Kashmir suffer pregnancy loss, reveals a survey conducted by Government of India (GoI).

    The official figures of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) states that the region has witnessed at least eight percent of foetal wastage in the backdrop of abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth in the past five years.

    “At least 92 percent of last pregnancies in the five years preceding the survey ended in a live birth, and the remaining 8 percent terminated in foetal wastage (abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth),” reads the survey.

    It also states that the miscarriage was most commonly reported type of foetal wastage, accounting for at least five percent of all pregnancies, and abortions accounted for 2 percent.

    “The three main reasons for abortion reported by women were complications in pregnancy with 26 percent, health issues with 19 percent and 17 percent of unplanned pregnancy,” reads the GoI survey.

    It also states that the 69 percent methods used for performing abortions was done through medicines, Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) was conducted to one percent and other 23 percent surgical methods were also used.

    “A large majority of at least 79 percent of abortions were performed in the public health sector, and 14 percent were performed in the private health sector,” it reads.

    “Thirty-seven percent of women reported having complications from the abortion. Most abortions in Jammu and Kashmir with 82 percent are performed by doctors,” the survey reads—(KNO)

  • World moving towards third wave of Covid, next 100 days important: Govt

    SRINAGAR: The second wave of the Covid epidemic in India is not even over yet that the third wave has started worrying. The Union Health Ministry said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently issued a warning of the third wave of the epidemic for the whole world.

    This means that the whole world is moving towards the third wave. In such a situation, the next 100-125 days are going to be very important for India. According to Hindustan Times, Dr. VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog (Health), said that at present, except the North and South America region of WHO, the epidemic situation is moving from good to bad and from worst to worst. The world is heading towards the third wave of the pandemic and it is a fact.

    He said that the next 100-125 days are challenging for India in view of the rapidly increasing cases in the world. Dr. Paul said that Spain has seen a 64 percent increase in weekly cases of the corona, while the Netherlands has seen a 300 percent increase. The situation in Thailand was stable for a long time, but now cases are increasing.

    He further said that Africa has also increased the cases of corona infection by 50 percent. Similarly, in Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, there is a sharp jump in the cases of infection.

    Dr. Paul said, “Our population is still vulnerable. We have not yet reached herd immunity. Especially because of infection, but it is not that we want to achieve herd immunity through infection. We are also increasing the vaccination.” He said, “Even 50 percent of our vulnerable population has not been vaccinated so far. In such a situation, we are still vulnerable, but the situation is under control and it has to be maintained.”

    Dr. Paul said that one dose of the corona vaccine has been found to reduce the risk of death by 82 percent and both doses by 95 percent. This means that nothing happened to 95 percent of the people who got infected after getting the vaccine.

  • No ban order on slaughtering of animals by JK govt; Clarifies ASH Deptt

    SRINAGAR, JULY 16: The Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department today clarified that the Jammu and Kashmir government has not issued any ban order on slaughtering of animals in accordance with rules.

    Pertinently, Animal Welfare Board of India every year issues advisory regarding animal slaughtering to be carried out while following laws and rules. The same advisory has been issued this year also and has been forwarded to the concerned authorities.

  • Two militants killed in Srinagar encounter were affiliated with ISJK: Police

    They were involved in three incidents, were tracking them, got lead yesterday: IGP Kashmir; 2 CRPF men also injured in gunfight, hospitalised, say officials

    Sheikh Danish

    Two militants killed in an encounter at Alamdar Colony, Saidapora, Eidgah Srinagar Friday morning were affiliated with Islamic State J&K outfit, police said.

    Police said both were locals from Natipora area of Srinagar. The two slain were identified as Irfan Ahmed Sofi and Bilal Ahmed, who had joined militancy on December 14, 2020.

    Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that two militants were involved in three incidents that took in June after which “we were tracking the movement of duo. We got a lead about them yesterday after which joint teams of CRPF and police cordoned off Eidgah area in Srinagar. We appealed to them to surrender but they refused after which an encounter took place in which both militants were killed,” he said, adding that as per police list “two slain were affiliated to LeT and had switched to ISJK as per social media reports.”

    In the gunfight, two CRPF men were also injured who were identified as Bupinder Sharma of 21 BN and Unis Ahmed of 73 BN who have been hospitalised and are stable.

    Earlier, police had said that two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter that broke out in the wee hours at Alamdar Colony Danmar, Syedpora area of district Srinagar.

    “Joint team of Police and CRPF had launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area after receiving credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area,” the official said.

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar had told KNO that with today’s operation, 78 militants have been killed this year so far in various encounters. “Of 78 total militants killed, 39 belonged to LeT followed by HM, Al-Badr, JeM and AuGH,” he had said.

  • Article 370 gone forever, it won’t come back: Former RAW chief A S Dulat

    Says solution to Kashmir issue lies in what Manmohan-Musharraf had agreed to; Mirwaiz has a role, he should be allowed to play it as and when he is ready; Statehood a genuine demand of mainstream leaders; Delimitation may benefit a little to Jammu region; Security situation improving, but political process must to stop young boys from choosing wrong path

    Srinagar: Former RAW chief A S Dulat Thursday said that Article 370 was a gone case and it won’t come back again now while he believes the solution to the Kashmir issues lies somewhere in what former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh had agreed to.

    In an exclusive interview with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dulat said that he is of the strong belief that the Article 370 issue is over. “The credit for scrapping it goes to BJP,” he said. “I personally believe that it won’t come back. Even mainstream parties like the National Conference have stated that the issue is before the Supreme Court and they will fight it there. The issue is sub-judice and let’s wait for the court verdict…..”

    Stating that he was always an ardent supporter of dialogue for resolving the Kashmir issue, Dulat said that the solution to the Kashmir problem lies somewhere in what Manmohan Singh and Musharaf had agreed to. “One thing is clear: whatever is across the LoC is there and whatever is on this side is here. So softening up the border is a choice….,” he told KNO over phone from New Delhi. “Even NC chief Dr Farooq Abdullah has been stating this since long.”

    Asked whether separatists have been rendered irrelevant in Kashmir, he said there is a role of the moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. “The role of Syed Ali Geelani was squeezed by Mushraf himself in 2004. Who talked to the Centre then? Geelani may have his own role but Mirwaiz definitely has a role to play and I believe he should be allowed to play his role as and when he is ready for it,” Dulat said. On if Mirwaiz had a role, why he is under continuous house arrest since August 5, 2019, the former RAW chief evaded the query reiterating that he (Mirwaiz) should be allowed to play his part whenever he is ready.

    Replying to a query about the delimitation process in J&K, Dulat said that Jammu may get a little benefit out of the process. To a query that PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has stated that the script of the delimitation panel was already written, he said: “I hope all the apprehensions of Mehbooba turn out to be wrong….”

    About the ceasefire on the LoC, Dulat said that it was a good step. “I heard peace is prevailing on borders and there is zero infiltration. This is a good thing indeed,” he said. “There is a regular meeting of DGMOs of both sides.” Asked whether there was alienation at its peak in Kashmir at present as even government employees are being sacked, the former RAW chief said that some boys are still not satisfied and are treading the wrong path. There has to be a political process to keep these youngsters away from choosing the wrong way.”

    As far as the sacking of employees, only the elected government can address such issues. “It is the elected government that can satisfy people and address their concerns,” he said. About the demand for restoration of statehood in J&K, Dulat said it is a genuine demand that should be fulfilled.

    To a query whether separatist leaders serving detention since past over two years in New Delhi need to be released, he evaded the query saying, “I can’t comment on this issue…”—(KNO)

  • MMU urges govt to lift restrictions on offering of Friday prayers in Central Mosques in J&K

    Srinagar, July 15: All the constituent members of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir, headed by incarcerated Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq on Thursday asked the government to lift restrictions, imposer in view of Covid-19, on offering Friday prayers in central mosques of Jammu and Kashmir.

    A spokesperson told that MMU members in a joint statement have asked the government to remove the restrictions on offering Friday prayers in central mosques of J&K due to Covid-19, in view of the rapid slowing down of Covid-19 cases in J&K, before the occasion of Eid ul Azha .

    In the joint statement, MMU-an amalgam of too religious bodies of the state said that on the advice of medical experts, parks, market places shopping malls, restaurants, hotels etc. have been allowed to open with the condition of following Covid appropriate SOPs, similarly all central places of worship in Jammu and Kashmir, which include the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Dargah Hazratbal Srinagar, Khanqah-e-Mu’ala, Imambarah Budgam, and other main mosques, shrines and imambarahs, that had been closed in view of the Pandemic, should now be allowed to hold Friday prayers and Eid-ul-Adha prayers adhering to strict Covid protocol.

    As per the statement, members of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema include Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Darul Uloom Raheemiya Bandipora, Muslim Personal Law Board Jammu and Kashmir, Anjuman-e-Shari’a Shian, Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadeeth, Jamaat-e-Islami, Karwaan-e-Islami, Ittehad-e-Muslimeen, Anjuman-e-Himayat-ul-Islam, Anjuman-e-Tabligh-ul-Islam. Jamiat Hamdaniya, Anjuman Ulema Ahnaaf, Darul Uloom Qasmia, Darul Uloom Bilalia, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, Anjuman-e-Mazhar-ul-Haq, Jamiat Aima Wa Ulema, Anjuman-e-Imam-o-Mashaa’ikh Kashmir, Dar-ul-Uloom Naqshbandia, Dar-ul-Uloom Rasheedia, Ahl-e-Bayt Foundation, Madrasa Kanz-ul-Uloom, Karvaan Khatm-e-Nabuwat, and other religious, social and educational associations.

  • Fixation of Fee for private schools: Supreme Court issues notices to JK Govt and Committee

    New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Jammu Kashmir Government
    and the Committee formed for fixation and regulation of fee of private schools known as Fee and Fund Regulatory Committee (FFRC) while hearing a writ petition filed by a federation of private schools namely National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA).

    The court of Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Aniruddha Bose issued notices while hearing a writ petition in which NISA has challenged the notice issued on January 19, 2021, by said Committee to 442 private schools operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In the writ petition it has been claimed that the committee has no power to determine the school fees in private schools that don’t enjoy government patronage.

    Fee Regulatory Committee had directed private schools to file past two years account records for the purpose of fixation of school fees in their schools.

    The private schools from Kashmir Valley have not obliged to the directions so for citing various reasons.

    Advocate Kapil Sibal that represented NISA in the court said that Fee Fixation Committee has no mandate to seek accounts and records from those private schools which do not get government aid.

    The Supreme Court after hearing the arguments issued notice to Jammu Kashmir Government and the Fee Fixation Committee asking them to clear their stand.

    Pertinently, majority of the private schools in Kashmir Valley are aided by the government. Recently, a couple of schools including Presentation Convent and Iqbal Memorial Institute were deprived of facilities being provided by Board of School Education after these schools were found ‘harassing’ parents and don’t complying the government orders. (KNT)

  • Taliban forces India to empty Kandahar consulate

    ANI

    Indian diplomats and ITBP personnel were evacuated from the Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s Kandahar following an intense clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters. The Taliban have occupied several important areas in Afghanistan over the last several days following the USA’s announcement of withdrawing its troops. India, in a statement, said that it is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in Kandahar. India’s evacuation comes amid the Taliban’s claim that they control over 85% of Afghanistan. 

    Afghan security personnel stand guard along the road amid an ongoing fight between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters (AFP)

    India had earlier hinted that it will bring back its nationals and officials from Afghanistan if the security situation worsens as the Taliban is making advances and capturing more provinces.

    Due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan’s Kandahar, some staff of the Indian embassy has been evacuated, said diplomatic sources on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, the emergency services of the consulate remain operational.

    However, diplomatic sources stated that reports of shutting of Indian Consulate in Kandahar, Afghanistan are incorrect. And the mission remains functional, they added.

    India had earlier hinted that it will bring back its nationals and officials from Afghanistan if the security situation worsens as the Taliban is making advances and capturing more provinces.

    “With the Afghan security situation deteriorating, plans have been discussed for bringing back our citizens and officials present in different parts of that country and multiple agencies are in discussion for this purpose,” sources had earlier told to ANI.

    India has its embassy in Kabul along with the consulates in Kandahar and Mazar where it has over 500 staff deployed.

    Two consulates in Herat and Jalalabad had ceased operations earlier there.

    The country, which has had a big presence in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 following the US invasion, has been helping the successive governments there including the members of the northern alliance who have been friends with India for a long time.

    Describing the security situation in Afghanistan as fluid and deteriorating, the Afghan envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has said the Taliban need to cease violence and there should be an end to the bloodshed.

    “More than 200,000 Afghan civilians are displaced already. There is an active fight going on between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in 200 districts out of a total of 375. There is also trouble in 18 border districts that share a border with several countries Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran,” the envoy said.

    Considering that the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will end in August, the Taliban have been capturing newer districts and areas at a lightning speed and the Afghan government forces are also fleeing from a number of places there.

    India has worked immensely for the redevelopment of Afghanistan and helped it to construct Parliament building along with several roads connecting important cities of the war-torn country. (ANI)

    With inputs from Agencies

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Pakistan’s NSA Says it is India’s responsibility to start the dialogue by “reversing” its actions in J&K

    PTI

    Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said on Wednesday that it was India’s responsibility to start the dialogue with Islamabad by “reversing” its actions in Jammu and Kashmir. India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated it into two Union territories.

    According to an official statement, Yusuf briefed the Senate Committee on Defence & National Security on Pakistan’s role in the changing regional scenario, Pakistan-American relations, Pakistan-India relations and the impact of the evolving situation in Afghanistan following the American military’s exit. “The onus was on India to start the dialogue process after reversing the wrongs” in Kashmir, Yusuf said, referring to the August 5, 2019 decision.

    India has maintained that the issue related to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was entirely an internal matter of the country. India has made it clear to Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

    Pakistan had downgraded ties with India and suspended trade after the Indian government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Talking about ties with the US, Yusuf said a broad-based roadmap is being developed for Pak-American relations which includes cooperation in commerce and trade, investment including vaccine manufacturing, climate change and military-to-military relations as well as promoting regional economic connectivity.

    Regarding Afghanistan, he said Pakistan’s perspective is very clear in promoting an inclusive political settlement with a view to ensure that Afghan territory is not used against Pakistan and Pakistan to ensure his commitment that its territory will not be used against any country. “The international community is also being informed about Pakistan’s concerns about the potential fallout of the Afghan crisis particularly in the new influx of refugees, he said.

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • UAE inaugurates embassy in Israel

    Embassy has been inaugurated in downtown Tel Aviv

    Jerusalem: The United Arab Emirates formally opened its embassy in Israel on Wednesday, inaugurating its diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv less than a year after the two countries announced they would establish open relations.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the embassy opening was an important milestone in our shared journey toward a future of peace, prosperity and security for the Middle East.

    The Emirati embassy’s inauguration came two weeks after Israel cut the ribbon on its embassy in Abu Dhabi during Foreign Minister Yair Lapid’s visit to the UAE in June.

    Israel and the UAE formally established diplomatic relations last year after decades of clandestine ties. The two countries signed the U.S.-brokered normalization agreement on the White House lawn in September, and a flurry of bilateral economic and cooperation deals in the months since.

    The UAE Embassy is situated in the same tower as Israel’s stock exchange in the heart of Tel Aviv’s business district. Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv because of Jerusalem’s disputed status one of the thorniest issues in the Mideast conflict. The U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, and a handful of countries have followed suit.

    Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it in a move unrecognized by most of the international community. The city is the seat of the Israeli parliament, Supreme Court and many government offices. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as capital of a future independent state.

    The UAE’s ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja, told reporters that the embassy will be a base for our task to continue to build on our new partnership, to seek dialog, not dispute, to build a new paradigm of peace and to provide a model for a new collaborative approach to conflict resolution in the Middle East. (AP)

    Jerusalem: The United Arab Emirates formally opened its embassy in Israel on Wednesday, inaugurating its diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv less than a year after the two countries announced they would establish open relations.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the embassy opening was an important milestone in our shared journey toward a future of peace, prosperity and security for the Middle East.

    The Emirati embassy’s inauguration came two weeks after Israel cut the ribbon on its embassy in Abu Dhabi during Foreign Minister Yair Lapid’s visit to the UAE in June.

    Israel and the UAE formally established diplomatic relations last year after decades of clandestine ties. The two countries signed the U.S.-brokered normalization agreement on the White House lawn in September, and a flurry of bilateral economic and cooperation deals in the months since.

    The UAE Embassy is situated in the same tower as Israel’s stock exchange in the heart of Tel Aviv’s business district. Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv because of Jerusalem’s disputed status one of the thorniest issues in the Mideast conflict. The U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, and a handful of countries have followed suit.

    Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it in a move unrecognized by most of the international community. The city is the seat of the Israeli parliament, Supreme Court and many government offices. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as capital of a future independent state.

    The UAE’s ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja, told reporters that the embassy will be a base for our task to continue to build on our new partnership, to seek dialog, not dispute, to build a new paradigm of peace and to provide a model for a new collaborative approach to conflict resolution in the Middle East. (AP)