In view of the sudden heavy overnight snowfall in the valley, the University of Kashmir has postponed all UG/PG/Professional examinations of the University scheduled to be held on 23rd February 2022.
Fresh dates for the postponed papers will be notified separately.
Further details awaited.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more overcast conditions and rain in Kashmir till March 9.
The weather system is likely to bring snow in hilly regions and light snow and rain across plains.
Futher details awaited.
Ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia next week, Moscow has assured that the cooperation between the two countries is not aimed that any “third country”, which means India.
Khan’s visit is the first such bilateral visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Russia in decades.
Though the dates of the visit haven’t been officially announced yet, Pakistan media reports quoting diplomatic sources have confirmed that Khan is expected to visit Moscow from February 23 to 26.
In response to WION’s question at the weekly Russian foreign ministry presser, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “I can assure you that the cooperation between Russia and Pakistan is not aimed at any third country. It is aimed at ensuring peace, security and stability in the region.”
She further said that both countries are “seeking to counter international terrorism and we seek to develop international trade”.
In 1999, the then Pakistani PM, Nawaz Sharif, visited Russia. It was followed by the visit of Pervez Musharraf in 2003, and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in 2011.
In 2017, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan went to Russia for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit (SCO) in Sochi, which wasn’t a bilateral visit.
The last formal bilateral meeting between both sides was when Sharif and President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan in June 2017.
Commenting on the India-Pakistan ties, the Russian spokesperson said that Mosco is “interested in seeing relations between India and Pakistan as good neighbourly relations and we would like to see the settlement of existing conflicts, for example, the Kashmir issue”.
Reiterating the long-standing position of Moscow, she said that all issues between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally under the Shimla and Lahore pacts.
Zakharova also welcomed the continuation of the 2003 ceasefire pact and the “statements by Pakistani leadership on normalising Indo-Pakistan ties.”
Spokesperson Maria brushed aside the view that Moscow doesn’t keep Indian sensitivities in mind in the backdrop of Imran Khan’s visit.
She said, “It is nothing to do with reality. Delhi and Moscow enjoy tight cooperation and recently we had a series of contact despite the pandemic restrictions.”
Russian President Putin visited Delhi in December 2021 for the annual India-Russia summit.
Later this year, PM Modi will be visiting the country as part of the annual summit. Other than that, both countries are engaging under the 2+2 foreign and defence ministers dialogue, the first of which took place last year.
While defence forms one of the main pillars of ties, both sides have been engaging in the economic area, Covid crisis and connectivity.
Internationally, both are members of the BRICS, SCO, RIC grouping.
The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said, “We understand that our countries bear a huge responsibility for peace and stability in the region and the level of contact we have between our leadership, it attests to the fact that we are indeed taken into account positions of each other.”
Responding to India-Russia engagement on the Afghanistan situation, she said, “We will coordinate our joint steps in national capacity on the international arena when it comes to dealing with the crisis in the country.”
India has been part of the Moscow Format talks on Afghanistan while the Russian NSA attended the Delhi security meet involving NSAs of several countries in the region.
The NSAs meeting in Delhi saw the participation of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
With inputs from Wion
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Ganderbal, Feb 22: A youth set himself ablaze on Tuesday during a demolition drive in Gundrahman in Ganderbal district.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that during the demolition of complex at Gundrahman a youth identified as Amir Ahmad Shah, son of Abul Hameed Shah of Harran sustained burn injuries after he set himself ablaze.
He said that the injured youth was reffered to SKIMS Soura for treatment.
Officials said that the person burnt himself when a demolition drive was being conducted and the officials tried to demolish his newly constructed complex constructed on government land.
Pertinently, Tehsildar Ganderbal along with Municipal Council has launched a demolition campaign against illegal encroachments at Gundrahman.
During the demolition owner of Complex Abul Hamid Shah, son of Ghulam Ahmad of Harran tried to stoping demolition along with family members and relatives by pelting stones towards the party, officials said.
The officials said that the son of owner Aamir Ahmad Shah tried to burn himself with kerosene or petrol and got injured following which he was shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment.
The officials said that the demolition drive has been stopped as of now
Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr. Farooq Jan when contacted didn’t divulge anything with regard to the health condition of the injured youth.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement to KNO said that during a demolition drive undertaken by Irrigation and Flood Control department over the banks of Nalla Sindh, one person identified as Amir Hamid Shah, son of Nazir Ahmad Shah of Haran Ganderbal suddenly appeared from behind the illegal structure and self immolated on its roof in protest against demolition of illegal structure raised on the banks of Nalla Sindh.
“The said person was however, rescued by SHO Ganderbal and locals on spot, however, he received burn injuries before flames were doused and was shifted to hospital.”
He said that a deep trench was dug by the owners of structure to prevent any ingress into the premises which prevented a prompt rescue.
Meanwhile, police has rendered all help and support in the hospitalisation and assured family members for best medical treatment.
“One police team is already there in hospital and facilitating his treatment.”
Moreover, Police appealed to media fraternity and general public not to circulate the video of unfortunate incident which is too graphic for the common people—(KNO)
Srinagar, Feb 20: ‘Dangal’ famed former film actress Zaira Wasim while reacting over ‘Hijab’ row said that ‘Hijab’ is not a choice but an obligation in Islam.
Zaira Wasim took to social media and wrote that as a hijab-wearing woman, she resents this “entire system where women are being stopped and harassed for merely carrying out a religious commitment.”
“The inherited notion of hijab being a choice is an ill-informed one,” Zaira wrote on Facebook and pasted the same on Twitter.
“It’s often either a construct of convenience or ignorance. Hijab isn’t a choice but an obligation in Islam. Likewise, a woman who wears the hijab is fulfilling an obligation enjoined upon her by the God she loves and has submitted herself to. I, as a woman who wears the hijab, with gratitude and humility, resent and resist this entire system where women are being stopped and harassed for merely carrying out a religious commitment.”
She added, “Stacking this bias against Muslim women and setting up systems where they should have to decide between education and hijab or to give up either is an absolute injustice. You’re attempting to compel them to make a very specific choice that feeds your agenda and then criticizing them while they’re imprisoned in what you’ve constructed. There is no other option to encourage them to choose differently. What is this if not a bias with people who confirm it acting in support of it? On top of all this, building a facade that all this is being done in the name of empowerment is even worse when it is quite exactly the opposite of that. Sad” (KNT)
Srinagar, Feb 19: Punjab Police has arrested two persons including a lady for murdering a businessman from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Friday morning in Firozpur area of Punjab.
As per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) by District Ferozepur Police, it has arrested the accused while exposing the blind murder of Kashmiri youth within 24 hours.
The statement said that Mohammad Amin Beg, son of Mohammad Rustam of village Sarajpura, police station Vesgas Handwara, district Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) had informed the police that he and other resident of his village have been coming to Ferozepur city for about 20 years to sell warm clothes.
“This year too he is living on rent in Khanuwali Basti along with his friends and working to sell warm clothes by cycling in two different villages. He was accompanied by Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, son of Habibullah Mir of Siraj Pura Tehsil, Handwara district,” the statement added.
It said that he and his companions come back every evening till around 5/6 pm, but on Feb 17, 2022, Mushtaq Ahmed Mir did not return and his mobile number 19149745999 was also blocked.
“When they searched for Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, they found a dead body lying in a sack on the side of the road from Ferozepur to Mallawal. The body was of Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, with blood oozing from his mouth.”
A case under number 36 dated 18-02-2022 against 302 Bhad Police Station Sadar Ferozepur was registered by the Chief Officer Sadar Police Station Ferozepur against unknown persons on the basis of the above information.
A team headed by Jagwinder Kumar, Deputy Captain of Police (Inv.) Ferozepur and Inspector Jagdish Kumar in charge of CIA Staff, Ferozepur was formed, it said, adding that the team formed was thoroughly investigated by different teams to trace the unidentified culprits and technical, scientific methods were used.
Two accused involved identified as Sonu son of Janta Singh of village Arif K Hall resident of village Sodhe Wala Police Station Sadar Ferozepur and Beant Kaur, wife of Shaan Singh resident of Aav Ke Hall resident of village Baure Wala Police Station Sadar Ferozepur were arrested today, police said.
It added that a motorcycle under number PB-66-A4699 Bajaj Paltina, Photo copy of late Mushtaq Ahmed’s bicycle purse along with cash, Bhagjat and Aadhar card 045 were recovered—(KNO)
Srinagar, Feb 19: Commissioner secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Floriculture department, Sheikh Fayaz on Saturday said that Tulip garden will be thrown open from March 20 onwards for public.
Talking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), he said that keeping in view the pleasant climate this year, the garden will be opened from March 20 onwards.
He said that like previous year, 15 lakh tulips will bloom which had set a record of about 2 lakh tourists visiting the garden last year.
“Department is fully prepared this year and new projects are being started for beautification and maintenance of new gardens and parks in the Kashmir valley,” he added.
He informed that 100 kanals of land has been identified in Sonamarg for setting up a Tulip garden there and a rose garden would be developed at Pahalgam which will attract more tourists.
“Department, besides maintaining old gardens is all set to develop new theme based gardens in the valley to attract more tourists. Department is handling now those parks which have more than 10 kanals of land and rest of the small parks have been handed over to municipality,” he said.
He further said that the department has taken over such parks which were earlier handled by J&K Bank like Iqbal park and Badamwari. (KNS)
Srinagar, Feb 16: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of having turned into the “modern-day East India Company”, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday castigated the government for trying to make it “Godse’s India”.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mehbooba while talking with reporters after a condolence meeting in Pahnoo Shopian said that BJP is working like the East India Company and the saffron party like the company will one day leave the country.
“Illegal and unconstitutional actions of 5 August 2019 and beyond have only added to the complexities of the J & K issue whereby those with full faith in the democratic and constitutional mechanism of our country have been deeply hurt and feel betrayed,” she said.
Mufti further alleged that, “thousands of our people have been arrested and imprisoned in outside jails. The journalists who want to show the real truth have been arrested, and PAGD is a voice against it, that’s why the central government is against us. They do not want anyone to talk about the reality here, they want that only one message to go out that everything is fine here.’’
Mufti said that the PAGD is raising the voices of people and BJP just wants to keep everybody quiet to float the narrative that by scrapping special status of J&K they have solved Kashmir issue
“There are different kinds of people living in India and BJP can’t decide what people will eat and wear but there is a conspiracy that wants to keep our girls away from education but we know our girls are brave, they won’t let them succeed and continue their education,” she said.
Mufti said that the BJP wants to keep people engaged with one or the other issue and different names are being given like hybrid militants, white collar militants so that they can raid and people won’t raise any voice
“Neither Kakkar’s nor East India Company lasted long and BJP too will have to go and people must wake up and don’t let India become Godse’s India,” she said—(KNO)
Srinagar: The entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir during the last three years of Covid 19 pandemic were most sufferers to survive their newly established business units despite taking financial support from the government department and banks for their newly business projects.
Babar Chowdhary, President Kashmir Youth Entrepreneurs Federation (KYEF) appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh to intervene in the matter of business of entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir to announce special package for the survival of all business units who are in deep crises and it will be a helping hand and can yield result oriented solution to them.
The KYEF president also urge to Lt Governor to announce special loan interest rates for the Jammu and Kashmir entrepreneurs so that the repayment of loan amount by the business entrepreneurs will be done on time.
Babar Chowdhary said, “During the last three years of Covid 19 pandemic, the business entrepreneurs of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir are facing huge hardships to manage the business operations in terms of bank loans, staff salaries, day to day expenses without getting any stability of business operations day by day.”
He further said that for setting up a new business venture in Jammu and Kashmir, the new business entrepreneur has to take all kind of permission from the concern departments to get it successfully done but in last three years nothing new happen to the survival of the businesses in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmir is seeing a new generation of young women entrepreneurs who are beating the challenges of unemployment, internet shutdowns, political instability and lockdowns to cash in on rising business opportunities. From food to fashion, these entrepreneurs have found an ally in social media, which is helping them expand faster than ever before.
Babar said that there has been a considerable rise in the number of registered entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir. While there were 483 entrepreneurs in 2016, the number has risen over four times to 2,164 in 2018 and more till 2021 and need of the hour is that government should take immediate steps for Young entrepreneurs to make hassle-free procedure for all new entrepreneurs of the region.
“It takes months and in some cases years for an entrepreneur to get NOCs like Power Availability Certificate, Power Sanction, consent to establish, consent to operate from departments like PDD and PCB/PCC,” the president said.
Srinagar, Feb 15: A minor Kashmiri student who is currently studying in Madhya Pradesh has been arrested by police for posting objectionable status on Whatsapp on the eve of third anniversary of Pulwama attack.
Official sources told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that one student of B.com Ist year at Swami Vivekanand Govt college Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh had posted objectionable video on his what-app status regarding Lethpora attack.
Quoting College Principal Spokesperson of J&K students association Nasir Khuehami said that the student posted a video of the slain Jawans of Pulwama attack on social media and wrote “it as Babri’s revenge”.
He said that an FIR in this regard has been registered and further investigation has been taken up.
The student who is studying under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) is under police custody and further investigations have been set into motion, he added. (KDC)