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SRINAGAR, FEB 02: Chairman Peoples Democratic front (PDF) and former MLA Khansahib Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said that India is our big Brother and they should talk with Pakistan to solve Kashmir issue.

While speaking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir Khan said that the issue of Kashmir is seen from 1947 and nobody say ignore it. “People of Kashmir have been suffering badly for last about six decades due to ever increasing animosity between the two neighbouring countries of India and Pakistan”, he said.

Khan further added that “Kashmir issue is an internationally admitted political issue which awaits a peaceful and dignified resolution through a sustained process of dialogue and reconciliation between the leadership of India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir”.

Khan added “If Kashmir is not an issue then why Shimla agreement, Delhi Agreement and why not the relationship of both countries are friendly if Kashmir is not an Issue”

“The resolution of the Kashmir dispute has been made intractable over the years due to the premise of Indian-Pakistani bilateralism in dealing with the dispute,” Khan added.

Meanwhile reacting over the governor’s statement he said, “It is really unfortunate and for the first one we have seen that a governor of a state is interfering in Politicsband this not the work of governor to interfere in Political issue of State. He should only focus on development and peace”.

He added that the credibility of institutions is lost due to such political statement of Governor. He added that “I’m bit agreed with the statement of Governor in which he said Political parties have done lot of promise with people but at the end they did nothing for people”.

Over the remarks of Omar Abdullah on PSA revocation, Khan added that, his father and his grandfather have presided over the most brutal, corrupt and despotic regimes of Jammu and Kashmir.

He added, “Somehow we the Politicians are responsible for the situation of Kashmir”.

Khan added “National conference was already in govt at least 5 times in Kashmir seen from 1990 have they ever tried to talk with them”.

Khan added “People should now realize and try to find out a real person and people are well aware about us”. (PTK)

Srinagar, Feb 02: A Pakistani woman, Syed Kubra Geelani who was married to Altaf Ahmad Rather of Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district in the year 2010 is aspiring to return Pakistan since last many years after she came to Kashmir along with her husband in 2014 under rehabilitation policy for former militants who had crossed LoC years ago.
Kubra after meeting her in-laws here in Kokernag spend some years with them but couldn’t sustain for a long as she was divorced by her husband sometime back.
The 35-year-old woman is currently facing immense hardships to survive in Kashmir. She is currently residing in Sopore with a Kashmiri family.
Kubra told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that she along with her husband Altaf Ahmad came to Kashmir under rehabilitation policy announced by Omar Abdullah led regime years ago.
She said the promises by the government in State proved ‘hoax’ as the situation they faced so far was quite contradictory to the claims made the government under rehabilitation policy. “I am a divorcee and am finding it difficult to survive in Kashmir now. I want the government of both the countries including India and Pakistan to take effective steps and facilitate our return to Pakistan,” she said.
“I was married to a Kashmiri man in the year 2010 following which we came to Kashmir in 2014 under rehabilitation policy but since then we (Pakistani Women) are facing immense hardships here,” she said, adding that she along with other Pakistani women must be allowed to return Pakistan where their families are residing.
Meanwhile, Kubra was accompanied by scores of other Pakistani women who are married to ex-militants. They staged a protest to press both the governments including India and Pakistan to ensure their return to Pakistan.
The women assembled in Srinagar’s Press Enclave and chanted slogans in favour of justice. The protesting women who were accompanied by some men also demanded India and Pakistan governments to deport them back to Pakistan.
“We were promised rehabilitation and other basic facilities but unfortunately we are being deprived of every basic facility here,” they said.
They later appealed India and Pakistan governments to allow them to return to Pakistan at an earliest.

Says Education Dept got freedom the day we shunted him out

Srinagar, Feb 02: Hitting back at Shah Faesal, Former Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) president Abdul Qayoom Wani said that the education department got freedom the day they shunted Faesal out of the department.
Reacting sharply to Faesal’s comments, Wani told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that Shah Faesal is a chocolate boy and a childish person. “He can talk anything rubbish. I have been telling again and again that he is a whimsical person,” he said.
Faesal had earlier said that Qayoom Wani’s exit from the department is a freedom for education department.
Abdul Qayoom Wani on Saturday joined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and was welcomed by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and Party Patron Muzaffar Hussain Beigh into the party fold. (KNS)

Srinagar, February 02: A woman sustained injuries on Saturday after she was hit by a shell during the clashes in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Sources told KNO that a woman identified as Dilshada Banoo, wife of Javaid Ahmed was injured after she was hit by a shell in Tral area during clashes today.

Reports said that a vehicle of forces was going through main market Tral when it was stoned by some youth. In retaliation, forces fired some tear smoke shells to disperse the stone pelting youth however a shell hit a woman, causing injuries to her.

She was shifted to Sub District Hospital Tral wherefrom she was referred to SMHS Srinagar for specialized treatment.

A police official told KNO said that lady was hit by stone not by shell.(KNO)

Details awaited.

This was the wedding of Australians Tim Robertson and Kate Hamilton Thursday at St Mary’s church in Gulmarg. It was the first in over three decades at Kashmir’s oldest Protestant Church.

Srinagar: An Australian couple in Indian wedding attire; dozens of foreign skiers wearing Kashmiri Pherans as guests, local priests and snow all around. And when the ceremony ended, Kashmiri music and food followed in the evening.

This was the wedding of Australians Tim Robertson and Kate Hamilton Thursday at St Mary’s church in Gulmarg. It was the first in over three decades at Kashmir’s oldest Protestant Church.

Engaged for a year and fond of snowboarding, it took the couple six months to plan the wedding in Gulmarg. “That day (last year), we were snowboarding back home and we decided to get married. But then Kate wanted a white wedding and in the mountains,” said Tim. A friend of Kate’s who organises skiing trips to Kashmir was roped in and a year later, their wish was fulfilled.

But until Thursday afternoon, minutes before the ceremony the couple walked to the church as heavy snow swirled all around. “Until the last moment, we were not sure that things will happen smoothly. We were surprised to see the skiers at our wedding. I don’t think we could have done this ceremony the way it happened here at any other place. I am speechless,” said Kate.
The couple also had a backup plan if the local priests did not turn up – exchange rings with each other. Despite the heavy snowfall in the Valley, however, two priests from Srinagar travelled to Gulmarg to perform the wedding.
Rev. Vinu Kaul (Associated Priest), one of the priests told The Indian Express that it was an “emotional” ceremony for him. “This church is like 100 years old and our sentiments are associated with this church. So when I came to know that a marriage is going to be held in Gulmarg, I was very happy,” he said. “It was the first such ceremony since 1990.”

“I was also unwell. But, despite all that, I decided to go to Gulmarg. Because it was for the first time in my life, that a marriage was held at Gulmarg, I didn’t want it to miss at any cost,” he said

At the church, were mostly fellow skiers and for many at the ski resort, it was a different event to attend. “Everyone was so excited. When I found out that a wedding is happening here, we started preparations immediately. By afternoon, the couple came and the ceremony was held,” says Mohammed Yousuf, caretaker of the Church. “It was a new thing for me. In my 15 years here, I only witness people visiting the church during Christmas.”

Khaver Jeelani, Managing Director of Hotel Highlands Park Gulmarg, who organized the function for the couple says that the first wedding at Gulmarg in his life time, will definitely send positive news outside. “When I received the news six months ago that they want to marry in Gulmarg, for a moment I thought it might not be possible. But, it went very well and I am happy. It will send positive news outside and a message that Kashmir is always safe for tourists,” he said.
The couple shares that how the hospitality and warmness from the Kashmir people will bring them again to this place. “We will definitely come again here next time, because this place is amazing. We have now so much of memories with this place,” says Tim.

J-K Tourism Department officials say that the event is “of great importance”. “Destination marriage happening here after a long time is great news for everyone in Gulmarg…” says Nasir Mehmood, Tourism department’s senior official at Gulmarg. (Indian Express)

Srinagar: Authorities on Saturday morning placed All Parties Hurriyat Conference & Awami Action Committee Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest at his Nigeen residence ahead of Modi’s visit to Kashmir

A heavy contingent of police arrived at Mirwaiz Manzil Nigeen & placed him under house arrest said a spokesman.

SRINAGAR, FEB 01: India has lodged protest with the UK to stop the hosting of a conference on Kashmir which is to be held inside British parliament in London.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar in a weekly briefing said that India had taken up the matter with the United Kingdom and “expected” the British government to address India’s concerns.

The meeting being organised at the House of Commons of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan (APPG-Pakistan) would include Conservative and Labour Party MPs. This would be followed by an exhibition in London to highlight the centrality of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the grave human rights violations against the Kashmiri people, by India, which are being widely condemned and need to be immediately stopped, read a statement by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

Meanwhile British High Commission Spokesperson in New Delhi said that UK has said that it will not interfere in the matter. They added “UK Members of Parliament are independent of government; it is for individual members to decide who they meet and for what purpose.”

The British High Commission spokesperson said in a statement, “We understand Qureshi is travelling to London to attend a number of private events. There are no plans for meetings with the UK Government during this visit.”

“The UK’s longstanding position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the Kashmiri people’s wishes”, said BHC spokesperson. (PTK)

SRINAGAR: Shah Faesal, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Jammu and Kashmir who recently announced plans to form his own political party and contest elections, blamed the Centre for the “escalation” of violence in the Valley.

While speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Pune Union of Working Journalists on Thursday, Faesal said that there was definitely an escalation of violence in Kashmir and if somebody was responsible for it, it was the Centre.

In 2009, Faesal became the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam and joined the IAS in the Jammu and Kashmir cadre. Recently, he resigned from the civil service and decided to join politics.

The former bureaucrat said that when India and Pakistan were engaged in talks over the years, the overall situation in the Valley was better. “Whenever the two nations spoke, lives of people on both sides became easy. So both countries should resume talks.”

He stressed that the people in India have to realise that the problem in Jammu and Kashmir is political and the only way to solve it is through dialogue.

Faesal said that he was as yet undecided about contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls although plans are on to float a new party. “When I quit the IAS, I had no plans to start a new political outfit. However, given the response I have received from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, I have decided to form a party for which I have received thousands of suggestions from the people.”

On abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, a contentious issue for decades, Faesal said, “India cannot afford to do that if it expects better relationship with Jammu and Kashmir. There is a need to address violence first rather than talking about bringing changes in the Constitution.” (PTK)

SRINAGAR: National Conference senior leader and former MLA Sonawari Mohammad Akbar Lone said that Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik seems to be the spokesperson of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

While speaking to News Agency Press Trust of Kashmir Lone said, “Who is Governor Satya Pal Malik to tell Youth of Kashmir what to do and what not to do. Governor’s work is to look administration not to play politics”.

Lone further added that the Governor wants more killing in Kashmir that is why he is targeting political parties. He added that in real he don’t want peace in Kashmir. He want to kill youngsters in Kashmir.”

He further added, “Governor should not play politics in Kashmir. He should focus on your work.”

“Satya Pal Malik don’t have any idea about the position of Governor that is why he is playing political is Kashmir” Lone added.

Yesterday Governor Satya Pal Malik said the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not want peace in the state as they were more interested in their “own empowerment”.

Malik was addressing a gathering in Jammu district, said he requested both former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti to participate in panchayat elections as it would benefit and empower the people of the state.

“But they decided to boycott the elections because they did not want empowerment of the people. They wanted their own empowerment. They were afraid of the panchayat elections and that is why they decided to boycott the polls. But we decided to hold the elections for the betterment of people,” Malik said while recalling that he broke the protocol and visited both leaders.

“I here again reiterate 300 boys (militants) cannot break India. They are nothing,” Malik said, adding that “our army and forces are instrumental in eliminating two to three militants after every one to two days. Good things is that people have understood that gun cannot bring us anything”.

He again urged the gun-wielding youth of Kashmir to shun the path of violence, saying it was no solution to any problem. “Some people have presumed that nothing can happen without the gun. Hurriyat leaders and mainstream parties (referring to NC and PDP) should know that violence won’t change anything. Some politicians in Kashmir want that youngsters should die so that they can blackmail New Delhi,” Malik said. (PTK)