Page 2 - Kashmir

Launchpad Kashmir: Excitel's Vivek Raina and 6 others unveil startup fund

Launchpad Kashmir would fund and incubate 24 startups by FY25 in Jammu and Kashmir region, taking them from the ideation stage to the seed funding round

New era of Pakistan-China cooperation has dawned: PM Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said a new era of Pakistan-China cooperation in the information technology (IT), communication, mining, and energy sectors has dawned and will lead to economic development and deepening of the time-tested bilateral relationship. Sharif's remarks came as he chaired a review meeting in Islamabad on Saturday on the implementation of agreements and MOUs reached during his recent visit to China, Radio Pakistan reported. The prime minister said that the promotion of Pakistan-China cooperation in these fields will lead to economic development, strengthening of regional ties, and deepening of the relations between the two countries. Referring to the time-tested Pak-China friendship, he said that China had always supported Pakistan in difficult times. China has emerged as the strongest economic power and Pakistan can emulate its development, he added. The 72-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that no disruption will be tolerated in th

UK's PM-elect Keir Starmer wants 'new strategic partnership' with India

Keir Starmer, the human rights barrister elected Britain's new Prime Minister on Friday, pledged a reset not only for the country but also for the Labour Party's relationship with the Indian diaspora to pursue a new strategic partnership", including an FTA, with India if his party won a strong mandate. Stramer-led Labour won the UK general election with a landslide. Starmer, 61, will be the next prime minister, telling supporters at a victory rally that change begins now. He will now be deservedly credited with achieving an impressive reversal of fortunes for Labour after a crushing election defeat in December 2019. The other turnaround he has been working on is to try and re-build his party's relationship with British Indians, alienated under former leader Jeremy Corbyn over a perceived anti-India stance on Kashmir. "Four and a half years of work changing the party, this is what it is for: a changed Labour Party ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of

5.7K more pilgrims leave for Amarnath shrine; turnout already over 74K-mark

The sixth batch of 5,725 pilgrims left in 256 vehicles for the twin basecamps of Baltal and Pahalgam at 3.05 am and were escorted by security vehicles

Exchange of fire reported along LoC in Kashmir's Poonch; no casualty

A brief exchange of fire was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, official sources said on Saturday. The firing from across the border was reported on a forward Indian post in Krishna Ghati sector late Friday night, prompting retaliation by the army troops guarding the LoC, the sources said. They said there was no casualty in the firing, which lasted for a brief period. The vigil was intensified to ensure that there is no infiltration by terrorists into this side, the sources said, adding a search of the area is underway.

First batch of Amarnath Yatra with over 4,600 pilgrims reach Kashmir valley

The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra reached the Kashmir valley on Friday amid stringent security arrangements, officials said. After their arrival in Srinagar, senior officials in police and civil administration, and local people welcomed the 4,603 pilgrims at the Navyug tunnel in Qazigund area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, they added. The 52-day pilgrimage will begin from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal -- on Saturday and conclude on August 19. Amid chants of "Bum Bum Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev", Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch from the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu early Friday morning. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha wished the pilgrims a safe journey. "May the blessings of Baba Amarnath ji bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone's life," he said. They reached Srinagar in a cavalcade of 231 li

With enhanced safety more films to be shot in Kashmir, benefit locals: Kant

Kashmir will be an integral part of all stories of India and more films will be shot in the valley which would benefit the local people, the country's G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said here on Wednesday. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the two-day Tourism Development Conclave-2024 at the SKICC, Kant said Kashmir needed safety and security which has been assured. "Several filmmakers have shot their movies and web series in the Kashmir valley. These are remarkable filmmakers... among the best in India. Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Vishal Bharadwaj, and Sanjay Suri -- all of them are top filmmakers. "They have all come here and shot great films which have been remarkable success stories. You already have a vast number of films being shot here," he told reporters. Referring to the recent visit of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to the valley, the former NITI Aayog CEO said it was a delight to see him play cricket on the streets of Kashmir. "Ajay Devgn and Jack

PM Modi to participate in yoga day celebrations in Srinagar on June 21

The main International Day of Yoga celebrations this year will be held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on June 21 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the event there, AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav said on Tuesday. Jadhav, the Minister of State for Ayush (independent charge), said this year's theme 'Yoga for Self and Society' highlights yoga's dual role in fostering individual and societal wellbeing. It underlines promoting connection between the inner-self and the outer world going beyond one's own wellbeing, Jadhav said. "Yoga nurtures physical, mental, and spiritual growth while promoting societal harmony. The enthusiastic participation of millions in recent years reflects the profound impact of yoga on communities," the minister said. He also announced that PM has written to each gram pradhan, encouraging grassroots participation and the spread of yoga in rural areas. Jadhav launched a 'Common Yoga Protocol Book in Braille' scri

China-Pak joint statement opposes 'unilateral actions' on Kashmir issue

China and Pakistan on Saturday opposed any "unilateral action" for the resolution of all outstanding issues in South Asia as the visiting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed the Chinese leadership on the situation in Kashmir and discussed close ties enjoyed by their militaries. Sharif concluded his four-day visit, the first after his second stint started in March, focussing on shoring up Chinese investments and assistance as his country faces an acute economic crisis. A joint statement at the end of his trip said, Both sides underscore the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, the need for resolution of all outstanding disputes, and their opposition to any unilateral action. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, releva

Pok unrest: What is fuelling the protest?

At least 3 killed in firing by security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

At least three people were killed and six others injured when security forces opened fire on protesters during clashes with paramilitary Rangers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's capital Muzaffarabad which has been rocked by protests against high prices of wheat flour and inflated electricity bills, a media report said on Tuesday. The paramilitary Rangers, which were called in to maintain law and order in the disputed region, came under attack while moving out of the region, the Dawn newspaper reported. Instead of exiting via Brarkot, the village bordering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the 19-vehicle convoy, including five trucks, chose to exit the region from Kohala, it said. As the convoy reached Muzaffarabad in a charged atmosphere, it was pelted with rocks near Shorran da Nakka village, to which they responded with teargas and firing, the report said. After entering the city through the Western Bypass, the Rangers were welcomed with rocks again, prompting them to use teargas and bullets. Th

Police officer killed, over 100 injured in clashes during protest in PoK

One police officer was killed and more than 100 people, mostly policemen, injured in violent clashes between security forces and protesters agitating against high prices of wheat flour and electricity in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, media reports said on Sunday. The disputed region witnessed clashes on Saturday between the police and activists of a rights movement amid a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across the territory, the Dawn newspaper reported. Mirpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kamran Ali told Dawn.com that sub-inspector Adnan Qureshi succumbed to a gunshot wound in the chest in the town of Islamgarh, where he was deployed along with other police personnel to stop a rally for Muzaffarabad via Kotli and Poonch districts under the banner of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The JAAC, which has traders at the forefront in most parts of the state, has been seeking the provision of electricity as per hydropower generation cost in the region, ...

Voters will end domination of National Conference, PDP in Kashmir, says BJP

The BJP may not be contesting any of the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir but the party is confident that the elections in the Valley will end the domination of the National Conference and People's Democratic Party in the region. A day before Srinagar goes to the polls, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh claimed on Monday that the Narendra Modi government's development initiatives following the abrogation of Article 370 coupled with peace in the region have ensured that people are looking beyond family-run parties like the two regional outfits besides the Congress. "These parties are responsible for all the turmoil Jammu and Kashmir went through right from the 90s when terrorism erupted and lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits had to flee their homes. "People know that be it the PDP, NC or the Congress, their concerns are not the priority of these parties as they only want to perpetuate their family rule," said Chugh, who is overseeing his party's campaign in the region besides in Lada

Lok Sabha polls 2024: EC updates 'Form M' procedure for Kashmiri migrants

Kashmiri migrant voters in Jammu and Udhampur zones won't fill out Form M anymore; they'll be assigned 'special polling stations'

Assembly polls in J&K to be held after Lok Sabha election: CEC Rajiv Kumar

The Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held after the Lok Sabha polls as organising both simultaneously is not viable from the security point of view, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday as he announced the schedule of the general election and some Assembly and bypolls. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning from April 19 and the results will be announced on June 4. Asked why Assembly polls are not being held in Jammu and Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha election, the CEC said forces have to be provided to every candidate in the Union Territory, which is not possible at a time when elections are being held across the country. He also said the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was amended in December 2023 after a delimitation exercise and the clock had started ticking for the Election Commission (EC) since then. "The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed in 2019. There was a provision for 107 seats, 24 of which

NC to win 3 LS seats in Kashmir, 'INDIA' will grow: Farooq Abdullah

After PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed unhappiness over the National Conference's decision to contest all three Lok Sabha constituencies in Kashmir, NC president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said both parties are part of the INDIA coalition and the NC will win the seats for the alliance. Mehbooba Mufti had on Friday said that the NC's decision was "disappointing" and a "setback to the hopes of the people of J&K". She also accused the NC of reducing their Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to a "joke". I do not know what she (Mufti) had said National Conference stands on its own feet and has won three seats (in the 2019 general elections). We are part of the alliance and she is also part of the alliance. If the National Conference wins (these seats) again, they will win it for the INDIA alliance and so what is the problem, Abdullah told reporters here. The NC leader said he is sure that the INDIA alliance will always grow because it is needed for the future of India ...

Ahead of PM Modi's Srinagar visit, security forces put on alert: Officials

Security forces have been put on alert ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address a public rally at the Bakshi Stadium here on Thursday, officials said on Sunday. The deployment of security personnel has been increased around the renovated Bakshi Stadium with barricades set up for checking the vehicles passing through the venue of PM Modi's rally, the officials said. Police and paramilitary forces are conducting random checking of vehicles at dozens of places in the city and elsewhere, the officials said. Special check points have been set up at various places in the city, including the entry and exit points as a precautionary measure, they said. The security forces have increased patrolling around the venue of the rally as part of area domination exercise to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit of the prime minister. This will be the prime minister's first visit to the Kashmir valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. This

PM Modi to address public rally in Kashmir in March in 1st visit to valley

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir next month and address a public rally in Anantnag district, BJP sources said here on Tuesday. This would be the prime minister's first visit to the Kashmir Valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The public rally will be held as part of the BJP's election campaign for the forthcoming general polls, the sources said. "The prime minister's public rally is scheduled in Anantnag district next month," the BJP sources said. "While the exact date is yet to be finalised, the rally will take place any day between March 14 to 17," the sources said, adding the party was waiting for the final dates from the Prime Minister's Office. The BJP is focussing on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which comprises of the south Kashmir areas of Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag, and Rajouri-Poonch areas in Jammu. Before delimitation of the constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Anantnag seat comprised only of the four south

Day not far when Kashmir will get connected with Kanyakumari by rail: PM

The day is not far when Kashmir will be connected with Kanyakumari by rail, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday as he commissioned a newly completed 48.1-km stretch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The 272-km USBRL is being commissioned in phases -- the 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section was done in October 2009, the 18-km Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013 and the 25-km Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014. Development works are happening simultaneously, unlike in the past when work was done in the rest of India but its benefits were either not available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir or were made available very late, the prime minister said here while addressing a public rally. "Today new airports are being built across the country. Jammu and Kashmir is also not behind. Today the expansion work of the Jammu airport has started. The dream of connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari by rail has also moved forward today with the commissioning of th

KCCI wants PM to address unemployment, ease of doing biz during J-K visit

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Jammu & Kashmir, the local industry on Monday said it expects the PM to address the key issue of unemployment and promote ease of doing business in the valley. "The Prime Minister's visit on Tuesday coincides with the inauguration of some prestigious projects which are destined to play an important part in the development of Jammu & Kashmir," the KCCI said in a statement. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) highlighted that the lack of infrastructure and support to industry have been a key roadblock in the overall development of the union territory. The KCCI looks up on the Prime Minister to implement his favourite 'Ease Of Doing Business' scheme in the UT, it said. While thanking the Prime Minister for accepting many of its suggestions in the past, the KCCI said, "it looks up to the Prime Minister with hope for considering suggestions critical for all round development of Jammu & Kasmir, more so, .