The News – Khawaja Asif hopes improvement in Islamabad-New Delhi ties after Indian elections

Epicentre of recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan is Afghanistan, says defence minister

Webdesk – 01 – 04- 2024. Expressing his views on bilateral ties of Pakistan and India, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is hopeful for improvement of relations between Islamabad and New Delhi after the neighbouring nation completes its seven-phase elections commencing on 19 April 2024.

Regional arch-rivals – Islamabad and New Delhi – have a long history of strained relations, primarily due to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) dispute which led to several wars while tensions usually rise on the occasions of countrywide elections in India.

“Our relations with India could be improved after elections there,” the defence minister expressed his views while speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, adding that Pakistan and India ties have its “own background”.

As the country which borders with China, India, Afghanistan, and Iran witnessed tensions with other neighbours, except for China, following crossborder attacks from Iran and Afghanistan, Asif is hopeful for a turn of event in terms of improvement of bilateral ties with New Delhi after the neighbour completes its upcoming election phase.

It is noteworthy to mention here that India will begin voting in phases starting April 19 to elect a new parliament, the world’s largest election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to cast ballots, Reuters reported.

The election pits two-term strongman Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his regional allies against a bickering alliance of two dozen opposition parties, with surveys suggesting a comfortable win for Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Epicentre of recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan is Afghanistan until the neighbouring country takes decisive action against the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens there.

The defence minister said that he, along with a high-level delegation, visited Afghanistan to request the Taliban government there to take effective steps to stop terrorism. However, the solution proposed by Kabul was not practically possible, he added.

“Our options are now reducing day-by-day for the neighbour due to fluctuation in Afghan interim government’s attitude towards Pakistan,” Asif said. He added that Pakistan has always stood besides Afghanistan, rendered sacrifices for them, and even fought wars with them.

He stressed treatment of Pak-Afghan border like other borders around the globe which restricts cross-border movement to visa holders under international laws.

He was of the view that the movement of people from Afghanistan without visas allows terrorists to enter Pakistan.

He also signalled on behalf of the federal government taking concrete steps in the coming days to the complete elimination of terrorism.

Elaborating on ongoing probe into the attack on Chinese nationals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Asif said that joint investigation teams of Pakistan and China found some leads, and they would soon dig up all facts regarding the terrorist attack.

Five Chinese citizens, including a woman, and a Pakistani driver were killed when their vehicle was attacked in Shangla’s Besham city as a suicide bomber crashed his explosives-laden vehicle into the car carrying the victims on 26 March.

To a question, the minister replied that Islamabad is successfully fulfilling targets of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), however, the government would be able to provide relief to the nation after at least 1.5 years.

He detailed that cases related to tax recovery worth Rs2,700 are currently pending, whereas, billions of rupees are being drained from the national exchequer due to electricity and gas theft. He, however, was optimistic of providing relief to the masses within next six months by taking effective moves.

To another question regarding restrictions on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, Asif replied that the United States should give an alternative solution to fulfilling energy needs of the country. He added that Washington must have to consider weak economic situation of Islamabad as the country reserves right to purchase gas on low prices from its neighbour.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1174650-khawaja-asif-hopes-improvement-in-islamabad-new-delhi-ties-after-indian-elections

The New Indian Express – The NC and PDP, which are part of the INDIA alliance, have decided to extend support to Congress candidates from both the seats.

Fayaz Wani

Srinagar – Jammu & Kashmir – India, 30 March 2024. Although the women electorate comprises 48.9% of the total electorate for five Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, the major political parties have so far shown reluctance in fielding women candidates from any of the five seats.

A total of 87,89,233 voters are eligible to vote for five Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Of them, 44,86,261 are male voters while 43,02,812 are women electorates besides 160 transgenders.

The Congress and BJP have so far announced candidates for Udhampur and Jammu seats. BJP has retained sitting MPs Jugal Kishore from Jammu seat and Union MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh from Udhampur seat. Congress has fielded Lal Singh from Udhampur seat and Raman Bhalla from Jammu seat.

The NC and PDP, which are part of the INDIA alliance, have decided to extend support to Congress candidates from both the seats.

The DPAP of Ghulam Nabi Azad has fielded Ghulam Nabi Saroori from Udhampur seat and is likely to give mandate to ex Congress leader Jugal Kishore from Jammu seat.

As far as the three Valley seats are considered, NC is insisting on contesting all the three seats and not leaving any seat to its INDIA alliance or Gupkar Alliance ally, PDP.

The NC, which had won three Valley seats in 2019 polls, is unlikely to field any woman candidate from any of the three seats, sources in the party said.

NC vice president Omar Abdullah has said the party has finalised the candidates and would announce their names after Eid-ul-Fitr.

BJP is considering fielding its J&K president Ravindra Raina from Rajouri-Poonch. It remains to be seen if BJP will field woman candidate from Srinagar or Baramulla seat.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Mar/30/jammu-kashmir-high-number-yet-women-fail-to-make-a-cut-in-nomination

The Pioneer – Pakistan’s newly-elected PM Shehbaz rakes up Kashmir issue, pledges to improve ties with all leading nations, including neighbours

Pakistan’s newly-elected PM Shehbaz rakes up Kashmir issuer, pledges to improve ties with all leading nations, including neighbours. [centre]

Islamabad – Pakistan – 03/03 2024. Pakistan’s newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday raked up the Kashmir issue in his maiden address but pledged to improve ties with all leading nations, including the country’s neighbours.

Shehbaz said that Pakistan would not become part of any “great game” and his government would increase the number of friends.

He pledged to build and improve ties with all leading nations, including neighbours.

“We will keep ties with neighbours on the basis of equality,” Shehbaz, 72, said as he easily won the election in the National Assembly to become Pakistan’s prime minister for a second time.

Shehbaz, however, raked up the Kashmir issue and equated it with Palestine. “Let’s all come together […] and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” he added.

He also thanked his allies in the coalition government for putting their trust in him and making him Leader of the House.

“When my Quaid (leader Nawaz) was elected the prime minister thrice, the development that followed in the country is an example of its own. And it is not wrong to say that Nawaz Sharif is the one who built Pakistan,” Shehbaz said in his victory speech.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president thanked his elder brother Nawaz and all the allies for putting their trust in him and making him Leader of the House.

Shehbaz, who was the consensus candidate of the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), received 201 votes in the 336-member house.

Shehbaz’s challenger Omar Ayub Khan of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes.

Shehbaz said that the country was facing challenges primarily due to the fragile economy. He said that he was starting his tenure when the country was facing a budgetary deficit of more than one trillion rupees.

“How we will pay the salaries for armed forces and how to pay the civil servants,” he wondered and added that reforming the economy was the biggest challenge faced by the country.

Shehbaz highlighted the burden of debt paying and said that the country was required to pay billions of rupees in interest only.

He highlighted that the energy sector was crumbling due to the accumulating debt owed by the country to the power-producing companies. He also mentioned that state-owned entities like Pakistan International Airlines were running into losses worth billions of rupees.

He promised to put the country on the path of development and announced to overcome all hurdles. “Though it is easier said than done, we will fulfill our task,” he said.

Shehbaz said that the government was determined to bring the country out of the current crisis. “I don’t want to set any deadline but due to various steps we will take, the positive results will start pouring in after a year,” he said.

He promised to bring investment into the country and create economic conditions that would spur economic growth. He also vowed to spread the web of “one window” export zones in all four provinces and work day and night to fulfil all these promises.

The newly-elected premier vowed to make Pakistan “self-sufficient”. “We will rise and we will make Pakistan self-sufficient,” said Shehbaz.

“There are talented people sitting in this Parliament who can steer Pakistan’s ship to the shore […] these include journalists, intellectuals, politicians, religious leaders,” he said.

Shehbaz said Pakistan had a big challenge and opportunity before it. “If we come together and decide to change the fate of Pakistan then God willing, we will defeat these challenges and take Pakistan to its rightful position,” he said.

He highlighted that this job was difficult but not impossible.

“Back to the good old days of development! Onwards and upwards. Nawaz Ka vision, Shehbaz Ka mission,” the PML-N said in a post on X along with a picture of both the leaders.

“The other name of deliverance is MUHAMMAD SHEHBAZ SHARIF,” it said in another post.

The session of the new parliament was convened amid ruckus and sloganeering by PTI-backed lawmakers.

In his speech, Shehbaz also said that the nation would always remember the sacrifices of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the maternal grandfather of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

He also announced the elimination of terrorism from the country by following the already adopted National Action Plan to deal with extremism in the country.

Shehbaz also targeted his rivals Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for attacking the national institutions and army buildings on 09 May last year when supporters of Imran Khan resorted to violent protest against his arrest in a case of alleged corruption.

“It is shameful that the country saw a day when GHQ, corps commander houses, airfields were attacked on 09 May,” Shehbaz said, adding that such sights are unforgettable.

He said that the PTI put the entire opposition behind bars without caring about women or children and used language that cannot be said out loud. “This is the difference between this leadership and that leadership; the entire assembly is witness to the fact that we never thought of the politics of revenge,” he said.

Shehbaz also said that those responsible for the 09 May incident would not be spared while saying that all innocent people implicated in various cases would be spared.

Opposition PTI lawmakers kept on shouting slogans during the speech by the prime minister who, undeterred by the rowdyism continued his address and made a long speech on the occasion. He asked the opponents to seek recourse to the national institutions to get the complaints about rigging redressed.

Shehbaz also questioned why Imran Khan wrote a letter to the International Monetary Fund which he said was tantamount to inviting foreign intervention in the affairs of the country. He offered reconciliation to the opposition and invited them to also cooperate to address the economic issues.

He will be administered the oath of office on Monday at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Shehbaz earlier served as prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/trending-news/pak-s-newly-elected-pm-shehbaz-rakes-up-kashmir-issuer–pledges-to-improve-ties-with-all-leading-nations–including-neighbours.html

The Tribune – Goods train at J-K’s Kathua suddenly starts running without a driver; after covering 70 km it halts in Punjab’s Mukerian

Our Correspondent

A goods train halted at Kathua station in Jammu started running towards Pathankot in Punjab without its driver at a speed of over 100 km per hour before being brought to a halt near Ucchi Bassi in Mukerian.

Fortunately, any untoward incident was avoided as a message was sent to all gatemen to keep the level-crossings closed. Inquiry has been started to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident.

Hoshiarpur – Panjab – India, 25 February 2024. The train’s engine was reported to have one side powered off while the other was running. The driver had got off during the halt at the Kathua station, but the train started running for nearly 70 km before it was finally stopped near Mukerian in Punjab.

Authorities were alerted. An inquiry has been started to investigate the circumstances leading to the unmanned train’s departure and to look into any lapses that may have occurred. (With inputs from IANS)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/goods-train-without-driver-races-at-100-kilometre-per-hour-from-kathua-to-punjabs-hoshiarpur-stopped-just-in-time-594434

The Statesman – All Srinagar-bound flights cancelled due to snow and bad weather

The snowfall that began on Saturday night intensified before inbound flights from New Delhi, Jammu, and other parts of the country could operate after a brief pause early this morning enabling clearance of the runway.

Jammu – Jammu & Kashmir, India, 04 February 2024.

The snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir and also Ladakh threw normal life out of gear. The Jammu-Srinagar and other highways were closed to traffic due to snow and landslides. Several roads across the district of the Kashmir Valley and upper areas of Jammu were covered under snow.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway due to a landslide at Sherbibi in the Ramban district. Efforts were being made to clear the debris for movement of traffic.

Men and machines of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), Army, and PWD were engaged in clearing snow from the roads.

The plains of Jammu had rain, whereas heavy snowfall has been reported in Kishtwar, Doda, Reading, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, and Kathua districts of Jammu.

Th Border Roads Organization (BRO), in Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, and Ramban districts in the next 24 hours.

People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche prone areas.

Electric supply in certain areas of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu division was snapped, but the engineers promptly restored it.

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din undertook a whirlwind tour of the city areas to oversee snow clearance measures for hassle-free vehicular movement. He inspected major roads including Poloview, Residency Road, Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, and Bemina.

Because of heavy snowfall in Kishtwar, Deputy Commissioner Devansh Yadav hosted a snow mela at the Chowgan Ground and has invited tourists to participate in lots of snow activities.

To meet the situation, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, issued a district-wise list of nodal officers of control rooms with contact numbers for medical assistance.

The mercury in Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir was minus 7 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.

Snowfall occurred at all places in the Kargil district in Ladakh and at many places in the Leh district.

The Statesman – Srinagar – Jammu – Leh – Ladakh

All Srinagar-bound flights cancelled due to snow and bad weather

The Nation – Kashmiris observing India’s Republic Day as Black Day today

Web Desk – 26 January 2024. Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world are observing India’s Republic Day, as a Black Day, today (Friday), in protest against New Delhi’s persistent denial of their right to self-determination.

According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS), a call for the observance of Black Day has been given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other Hurriyat organizations.

Jailed APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt and incarcerated senior leader Shabbir Ahmed Shah, both detained in India’s Tihar jail, reiterated the call for a Black Day in every corner of the territory.

APHC leaders and affiliated parties condemned India for a reign of terror, including widespread repression, frequent cordon and search operations, random arrests, and restrictions on businesses and social activities.

They called upon the people to boycott all Indian celebrations, sending a clear message that Kashmiris reject Indian illegal occupation and are determined to secure their right to self-determination.

Meanwhile, Indian forces’ personnel have intensified checking, frisking, surveillance and patrolling in the name of security measures in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, today, Indian Republic Day.

According to Kashmir Media Service, restrictions have been intensified in Srinagar and other places in the occupied territory as Indian forces have been deployed in large numbers around the venues of today’s functions across the valley.

Officials said police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the city and other district headquarters. Checkpoints have been established at various places in Srinagar, especially at the entry points of the city and other districts, they said.

Indian forces are conducting random checking of vehicles and frisking of people. Sharpshooters from the police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel have occupied high-rise buildings around the main venues.

https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Jan-2024/kashmiris-observing-india-s-republic-day-as-black-day-today

BBC News – Kashmir’s rare snowless winter sets off alarm bells

Auqib Javeed

In his 17 years of managing a hotel in Gulmarg, a picturesque town in Indian-administered Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad has never seen a season without snow.

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India 19 January 2024. But this year, things are different: the snow-clad mountains in the region are oddly brown and barren.

“This is unprecedented,” Mr Ahmad, 50, says, and adds that tourists have stopped making reservations at his hotel.

Every year, thousands of tourists visit Kashmir in winter to enjoy skiing and sightseeing. But

The absence of snowfall this year has bought the region’s tourism industry to its knees.

Close to 100,000 tourists visited Kashmir last January, but this year that number has reduced by more than half, officials say.

Experts say the snow-less winter will have a disastrous impact on the territory’s economy as the tourism sector accounts for about 7% of Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP. It will also impact farming and water supply as scanty snowfall will not replenish groundwater reserves adequately.

Environmentalists say that climate change has been impacting the region, causing extreme weather events and prolonged dry spells in both winter and summer. Jammu and Kashmir’s weather department recorded a 79% rainfall deficit in December and a 100% deficit in January.

The valley is also experiencing warmer weather, with most stations in Kashmir recording a 6-8C (43-48F) rise in temperature this winter.

Hotel owners say tourists have cancelled their reservations, while many left after visiting the place as they were unable to enjoy skiing or sleigh rides.

“Over 40% of hotel reservations have been cancelled and new bookings are currently on hold,” Aqib Chaya, president of Gulmarg Hoteliers Club, says.

Raj Kumar, a resident of the western state of Maharashtra who visited Kashmir with his family for the first time, says that they were crestfallen.

“We came here to witness snowfall and go on a cable car ride…but we were disappointed to see a snowless Gulmarg,” he says.

The decline in tourists is hurting local businesses, a majority of which rely on tourism in the winter months to survive.

Tariq Ahmad Lone, who heads the pony riders association in Gulmarg which has about 5000 members, says that they have not been able to earn much in the last three months. Pony rides are an enjoyable way to travel through the region’s highlands and hence, a popular tourist activity.

“Our livelihood directly depends upon snow. A snow-less season will bring miseries for our families,” he says. He adds that since most of the riders have been engaged in this profession for decades, it’s almost impossible for them to find another source of livelihood.

Showkat Ahmad Rather, who heads the Ski Association of Gulmarg, echoes this sentiment.

“I have been working as a ski instructor for the past 27 years, I can’t switch to doing something else,” he says.

Apart from tourism, experts say that the absence of snowfall will also impact generation of hydroelectricity, fisheries and farming.

The neighbouring territory of Ladakh – another popular tourist destination – is also experiencing a snow-less winter.

“The farming here is dependent on glaciers. The glaciers are melting at a fast rate. No snowfall in the peak [winter] season means early that spring water will be a big problem,” environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk says.

“This is one of the driest spells in the Himalayan region,” Sonam Lotus, director of the Meteorological Centre in Leh, says. Irfan Rashid, an assistant professor at University of Kashmir, adds that a drought like situation “can’t be ruled out”.

The region normally receives heavy snowfall during peak winter – a 40-day period that lasts from 21 December to 29 January. During this time, mountains and glaciers get covered with snow and this ensures water supply throughout the year.

Some experts say that snowfall in the region has been declining for the past couple of years.

“Before the 1990s, we would witness heavy snowfall of up to 3ft (0.9m) and it wouldn’t melt until spring. But we are now witnessing warm winters,” Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, an earth scientist, says.

He is among those who believe that the Kashmir valley is facing the “brunt” of climate change.

“Our per capita greenhouse gas emissions are very less compared to other states. People in Kashmir have a very modest lifestyle. We are the victims of global climate change.”

According to a study by Mr Romshoo and his team, the region, including Ladakh, could heat up to “catastrophic levels” by the end of the century – it could witness a rise in temperature by 3.98-6.93C.

Meanwhile, locals continue to hope for a miracle this winter.

The weather department hasn’t predicted a spell of heavy snowfall until 24 January, but Mr Ahmad says that he’s hopeful that nature will be “kind” to them.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68015106

The Statesman – Pakistan army chief feared ‘hard action’ by India if IAF pilot not returned: Ex-envoy

He also claimed that then Pakistan PM Imran Khan wanted to speak to PM Modi but the latter didn’t take his call.

New Delhi – India, 09 January 2024. Former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria has revealed that after the 2019 Balakot Air Strike, then Pakistani Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa wanted to return the captured Indian IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, fearing “hard action” by India.

On 26 February 2019, the Indian Air Force had launched a tactical air strike in PoK’s Balakot to target terrorist camps.

Next day, Wing Commander Varthaman’s MiG-21 Bison shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during an aerial dog-fight over the LoC. Later, his own MiG-21 Bison was also hit after which he ejected the aircraft and landed in PoK.(Pakistan occupied Kashmir/Azaad Kashmir)

He was held captive by the Pakistani Army for around 60 hours before being handed over to India.

“…then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and then Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa came to brief the MPs and said there is a serious danger of the crisis escalating and India taking hard action and therefore, we should return the pilot…,” Bisaria, who has written a book about his experiences in Pakistan, told news agency ANI.

In the book, titled “Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship between India and Pakistan”, Bisaria has also claimed that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI had tipped off India about an Al-Qaeda plot to carry out an attack in Kashmir in June 2019.

Speaking about PM Modi’s “Qatal ki raat” reference, the former High Commissioner to Pakistan said that the neighbouring country got Intel about India’s missile attack and Imran Khan wanted to speak to PM Modi but the latter didn’t take his call.

“PM Modi did mention this in his speech. He did refer to this episode but Imran Khan also referred to this episode in his own speech in Parliament, that he had made an attempt to talk to the Indian PM. There was a conversation in Pakistan’s Parliament also, which has been reported by a Pakistan MP…,” he added.

The Statesman 09 January 2024

Pak army chief feared ‘hard action’ by India if IAF pilot not returned: Ex-envoy

The Print – Lt Col Karanbir Singh Natt, who fought death for 8 years – cremated with full military honours

A Sena Medal (Gallantry) recipient, Lt Col Natt had been in a coma for the past 8 years, following injury in a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. He died Saturday.

Snehesh Alex Philip

New Delhi – India, 26 December 2023. Lt Col Karanbir Singh Natt, who died Saturday after being in coma for eight years following injury in a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated Tuesday with full military honours.

Originally a Short Service Commission (SSC) officer, Lt Col Natt was a Sena Medal (Gallantry) recipient.

He is survived by his wife Navreet Kaur, daughters Guneet and Ashneet, and his father who is an Army veteran himself.

The Western Army Command put out a post on social media platform X [formerly Twitter]

He was the second-in-command of the 160 Infantry Battalion TA (Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) when on 22 November, 2015, he went out for an operation in Haji Nanka village of Kupwara.

The soldiers were following up on intelligence inputs that some terrorists were holed up in the village. After being hit by a bullet while trying to save his three men from direct gunfire, he was quickly evacuated and later admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in the national capital.

His family eventually moved him to the Military Hospital in Jalandhar where he remained in a coma till his death Saturday.

‘Go-getter, always in operations’

Army officers described him as a true olive-green officer and underlined that his love for the Army made him join back the force after his stint as an SSC officer.

After he graduated from the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, Lt. Col. Natt was commissioned in the 19th Battalion of the Brigade of Guards, a mechanised infantry regiment.

He served in the Army for 14 years as an SSC officer before he joined the Territorial Army. His first Commanding Officer, Col. Anil Alagh had written a moving post on Facebook in 2018, detailing Lt Col Natt’s journey.

In this post, Col. Alagh described the late officer as “a go-getter and always in operations with his men even as a Lt. Colonel”.

“One fine night, his luck ran out. In a CASO [Cordon & Search Operation] based on hard Intintelligence, as he entered to search a tiny outer hutment, a terrorist lying in wait in the darkness, let loose a burst which went through his throat and out via his cheekbone.

In those moments, as he fell, he successfully neutralised the S.O.B. but he, himself, was grievously injured,” the post said.

He was air-evacuated first to Srinagar, and then to R&R Hospital Delhi, the post said. “The day he was brought in was 23 Nov [November] 2015. He was in vegetative state, he had suffered oxygen loss to the brain.

The doctors gave him little chance, but their selfless efforts, the love of his comrades, retired unit veterans like me standing outside the ICCU and praying, his parents, and above all his young lady wife Navpreet, gradually sustained and kept him alive,” the post said.

The post further added: That day began the saga of suffering and extreme test of faith of his intimate family members, of his beloved Navreet, his children Guneet and Ashmeet, and his parents”.

(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)

https://theprint.in/defence/lt-col-karanbir-singh-natt-who-fought-death-for-8-years-cremated-with-full-military-honours/1901118/

The Pioneer – Adequate arrangements made to ensure peace in Kashmir: IGP

Srinagar – Jammu & Kashmir -India, 11 December 2023. Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in Kashmir as the Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Monday on a bunch of petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution by the Centre in August 2019, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

“We are duty-bound to ensure that peace prevails in the valley under all circumstances,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone V K Birdi told PTI.

The Supreme Court has listed for pronouncement of judgment the petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union territories by the Centre on 05 August 2019.

A five-judge bench of the apex court reserved its verdict on the petitions on 05 September after conducting daily hearings in the matter from 02 August.

While the IGP refused to divulge specifics of the security set-up for Monday, he said “adequate arrangements” have been put in place.

“We are taking all precautions and will ensure that peace is not disturbed in Kashmir,” Birdi, who held security review meetings in most of the 10 valley districts over the last two weeks, said.

Asked if orders invoking section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on the misuse of social media were related to the Supreme Court’s expected judgment, he said there have been several incidents of some elements trying to provoke people.

“There have been several posts recently, in which there were attempts to provoke people. Action has been taken against such elements in the past and action will be taken in the future as well,” he added.

The authorities here have issued guidelines for social media users under CrPC section 144 to curb the spread of contents that are communally sensitive or promote terrorism and secessionism.

“The guidelines aim to provide clarity on actions citizens should take when encountering content related to terrorism, secessionism, threats, intimidation or communally-sensitive material on social media platforms,” the circular, issued by police in several districts, read.

According to the guidelines, the citizens have been asked to contribute to maintaining a safe online environment and promptly report any suspicious activity.

“If you receive a message containing objectionable content, then report it immediately to the nearest police station or police post with a screenshot and detailed information,” the guidelines read.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/india/adequate-arrangements-made-to-ensure-peace-in-kashmir–igp.html