Gurez valley

  ISLAMABAD, May 31: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan welcoming the letter of the European Parliament’s global human rights subcommittee to the Indian government about massive human rights violations described the move as a charge sheet against the Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. “The Indian government is brazenly using anti-terrorism law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to curb the civil liberties and intimidate the human rights defenders within India and in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Commenting on the letter written by the sub committee’s chairperson Maria Arena to the Indian home minister, he said that the arrest of two human rights activists Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde, under the UAPA, is proof that the Modi regime considers human rights activists as terrorists. He said that this act of the Indian government is itself state terrorism and negates the human rights guaranteed under the constituti...

Jahangeer Ganaie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Anantnag , May 31:  The Kashmiri militants on Sunday managed to escape after engaging forces in a brief gunfight in the PoshKreeri area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that after the initial exchange of fire at around 2 am, the search operation was launched by the forces to locate the militants in the area. However, they said no contact was established with the militants thereafter. Earlier, an encounter broke out between Indian government forces and militants after a joint team of forces including 3 RR, CRPF and Anantnag Police launched a search operation in the area. Officials said that as forces intensified search operation towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon forces, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter. Nonetheless, the militants have managed to escape by taking advantage of the darkness, they said. Meanwhile, mobile int...

Sarfaraz A Lone reports from Indian occupied Kashmir   Srinagar, May 31: Two Special Security Group (SSG) commandos have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Kashmir Valley, officials told GNS on Sunday. They said samples of eight SSG commandos were taken on May 27 and their results returned on May 29. “Two among them, one a resident of Srinagar and another from Bandipora district, returned positive for the disease on May 29,” they said. Confirming it, Dr. S. D. Singh Jamwal (IPS), Director SSG, told GNS these people belong to areas declared as Red Zones. “One is from the area near Soura Srinagar and other Bandipora. After the declaration of the areas as red zones, they could not join duties and remained there,” he said, adding, “After they joined duties back, we quarantined them as per the protocol. During the process, while following SOPs samples were collected and sent for test. Out of those tested, two came out to be positive. They have been shifted to hospital.” Th...

ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Pakistan once again reminded the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to play its primary role for the maintenance of peace and security by urging India to stop extra-judicial killings of Kashmiris and end the continuous military crackdown and unprecedented restrictions in the Occupied Kashmir. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has addressed another comprehensive communication to the President of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, apprising them of the latest situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK), according to a Foreign Office press release. In his letter of May 21, the foreign minister drew attention towards the newly-notified “Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Order 2020” and “Jammu & Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate Rules 2020” aimed at changing the demographic structure of IOJK. It has been underscored that these actions are illegal and in violation of the UNSC resolutions and international law, in part...

  ISLAMABAD (Agencies):  Pakistan has called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to intervene and hold India accountable for its grave breaches of international humanitarian law and war crimes in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), and take steps to settle the decades-old dispute. “Inaction by the Security Council in cases of foreign aggression and occupation comes at a high human cost,” Ambassador Munir Akram warned the 15-member body, which held a virtual meeting on the ‘Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’ on Wednesday. The Pakistani envoy urged the UNSC to focus on the root causes of emerging and long-standing conflicts, including Kashmir and Palestine, and find inclusive political solutions. India, he said, had “callously” exploited the coronavirus crisis to enhance its control of the occupied territory, already reeling from a nine-month-long digital and physical lockdown, to place the valley under a “double lockdown” severely impeding Kashmiris’ access to medicines, m...

Our correspondent MUZAFFARABAD, May 29: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan held a lengthy meeting with the state President Sardar Masood Khan here on Friday. Matters of national interest including border tension between India and China at Sikkim-Tibet border in Ladakh and its impacts on Jammu Kashmir, the global scenario in the context of Kashmir conflict, the repression of Indian occupation forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, consequences of the promulgation of new domicile laws by the Indian government and the situation erupted out of the outbreak of coronavirus in Azad Kashmir, figured during the meeting. The state president and the prime minister while expressing satisfaction over the steps taken by the government and the cooperation extended by the people to contain the spread of coronavirus expressed the determination to focus on all protective and preventive measures to effectively control the pandemic. Holding India responsible for the...

ALI SUKHANVER Indian Army has recently claimed that it has arrested a spy pigeon sent to the Indian territory by Pakistan. Unluckily in spite of wasting a lot of time and resources, no transmitter, no chip could be traced attached with the body of the spy-pigeon and on the pressure of the Indian public, the innocent pigeon had to be released. This act of arresting an innocent bird has made a lot of fun of the Indian Army on social media. Just to give the world an impression of its professional skill and expertise, a spy-drone was sent to Pakistani Territory which was shot down by the Pakistan Army.  In an official statement, the Pakistan Army said that the drone was violating airspace along the Line of Control. The drone had intruded 600 meters inside across the LoC on the Pakistani side in the Sankh sector. The Pakistan Army said this intrusion was purely a provocative act and there was no other way but to shoot it down just to convey a message that Pakistan would never bear any ...

  Brussels, 29 May 2020 – The death of George Floyd in the United States has once again exposed racist police brutality. Recent events and data have revealed how racial profiling and police violence also target racialised communities in Europe and have been exacerbated during Covid-19. The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) calls for urgent measures to ensure justice for communities and hold law enforcement accountable. The police have been given more enforcement powers as part of Covid-19 lockdown measures. This is disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minorities, who have been subjected to discriminatory checks and fines, racial profiling, and heavy-handed police tactics and violence. “Covid-19 lockdown measures are exacerbating what racial and ethnic minorities have been experiencing for decades at the hands of the police: discriminatory stop and search, abuse, violence and even death” , said Karen Taylor, Chair of the European Network Against Racism . “Ensurin...

A 70-year-old man from Shopian tests positive a day after his death, toll 28 Jahangeer Ganai reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, May 29:  Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 128 more positive cases for Covid-19 taking the total number of positive cases in the UT to 2164. Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that among new 128 cases that were detected in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, 58 were tested positive at SKIMS, 33 at CD hospital and rest at other hospitals and private labs Among 128 new cases, 92 belong to Kashmir division while as 36 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached to 1728 including 774 recoveries and 25 deaths while as a total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached to 436 including 101 recoveries and 3 deaths. They added that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 1261 including 929 from Kashmir division and 332 from Jammu divi...

‘Participation will be tantamount to accepting the events of events of Aug 5, 2019’ Nasir Azam reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, May 29:   In a significant development, National Conference on Friday decided against participating in the delimitation exercise ordered by the Government of India for fixing boundaries of Assembly and Parliamentary exercise in the newly carved out Union Territory. Interestingly, the announcement about the rejection of the delimitation process by NC was made by its chief spokesman and three-time MLA, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehi, who had locked horns with the party over its silence on abrogation of the Article 370. “The @JKNC_ will not participate in the delimitation exercise,” NC chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said on Twitter. Mehdi, a three-time MLA and powerful Shia leader, said a detailed statement of the party over the issue will follow soon. It is pertinent to mention here that news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO...

J&K High Court upholds detention of Mian Qayoom ‘Detenue is at liberty to make representation to concerned authorities’ Nasir Azam reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, May 28:  A double bench of Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Thursday upheld detention of Kashmir High Court Bar Association president Mian Qayoom under the controversial Public Safety Act(PSA) by dismissing his appeal against single bench order. The bench comprising Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, however, suggested that detenue is at liberty to make a representation to the concerned authorities to take advantage of the stand taken by Advocate General that “such ideology cannot be confined or limited to time to qualify it to be called stale or fresh or proximate, unless, of course, the person concerned declares and establishes by conduct and expression that he has shunned the ideology”. “In light of the above legally rightful and sound argument taken by the learned Ad...

Tahir Mehmood “ I am proud of my martyred son. He has shown us the way to love and serve Pakistan.” This is a solid rock declaration by a proud father who lost his youngest son Captain Bilal Zafar on 17 May 2009 while fighting against terrorists in Peochar Valley, Swat. His second son, Captain Zarar Zafar has just come back from the graveyard after praying Fateha on the grave of his loving brother Captain Bilal. This proud father is Captain Zafar Abbasi, ex Pak Army officer who still cherishes the memories of the 1971 War, where he fought like a hero against our traditional foe. Captain Zafar and his family belong to village Karore, Tehsil Kotli Sattian. This village is located at a high plateau, dominating area up to Attock and is mostly inhabited by old and traditional Abbasi tribe. This lofty mountainous top has nurtured many Ghazis and Shaheeds . It is a town where soldiery is taken as an ancestral inheritance and offering life in the line of duty is like a sacred custom. It ...

Srinagar: Denouncing in strong terms the attack on a Sikh Gurdwara at Derby in UK Jammu and Kashmir National Front (JKNF) on Wednesday said that the attack was a deep-rooted conspiracy aimed at creating a wedge between Muslims and the Sikh community that have stood always together even in the testing times. While reacting to this dastardly incident of sacrilege the JKNF spokesman in a statement said that the planned attack on the temple was a handiwork of the Indian secret agencies that were hell-bent on to destroy the age-old interfaith harmony and friendship between the two communities. The successive governments of India he said have always tried to portray the ongoing struggle as a conflict between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities to give it a communal colour. Terming premeditated exodus of Kashmiri Pandit community as part of this sinister design he said that the Indian secret agencies have miserably failed to lure the other communities especially the Sikh community that ref...

BEIJING, May 27 (APP): China’s position on border-related issues with India was clear and consistent and it was committed to safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and security as well as safeguarding peace and stability in the China-India border areas, a Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson said on Wednesday. “China’s position on border-related issues is clear and consistent. We are committed to safeguarding our territorial sovereignty and security and safeguarding peace and stability in the border areas,” Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing held here while responding to Indian officials claims that China had moved an additional 5,000 troops to its disputed border areas with India. He said the Chinese side been following the important consensus reached by the two leaders and strictly observing the agreements between the two countries, adding, “Now the China-India border area situation is overall stable and controllable.” The spokesperson said the two countries h...

MUZAFFARABAD (AJK):  Chairman Special Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi visited Line of Control (LoC) along with Chakothi Sector on Eid ul Fitr and paid glowing tribute to the Kashmiris for rendering matchless sacrifices for their just cause. During his visit to the Chokothi sector, the Chairman Special Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir spent time with soldiers deployed at forwarding posts. General Officer Commanding Muree Major General Amer Ahsan Nawaz accompanied him on a visit to LoC and briefed him on the situation. Addressing the troops, Shehryar Khan Afridi said that Kashmir beats in the heart of every Pakistani. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has emerged as a vibrant ambassador of Kashmir in the world, by presenting the case of Kashmir with a new angle and garnering attention. Shehryar Khan Afridi urged the world community to take notice of the massive human rights violations by the Indian occupant forces in the held valley and impose economic ...

JAMMU, May 27: Chairman JKPCC Transport Cell, Gajan Singh Khajuria urged upon the Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu to restore 4G mobile Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir without any further delay. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Singh said that students as well as traders of the Jammu and Kashmir have been suffering a lot due to the absence of 4G internet services. “It has been since August 5, students have not attended the schools. The non-availability of high-speed internet is hampering studies of students and we don’t want schooling should be affected anymore,” he said. Singh said everybody was in support of security issues, but, at the same time, there is a dire need of high-speed internet services because of Coronavirus outbreak, adding that apart from helping the students to study online, it will help the doctors, other frontline workers and patients to deal with the situation comfortably. He further said the 4G services will also help the general public to get the ...

KNO reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, May 27:  Chairman Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement, Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat Wednesday urged upon the government to destroy all the unexploded artillery shells in Tosamaidan meadow as these live shells are posing a great threat to the local population and visiting tourists. In a statement issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat said that blast in Tosamaidan on Tuesday is an ample proof that live shells are still lying scattered in Tosamaidan, which is unsafe for people visiting the area. “RTI Movement expresses sympathy with the family of Mohammad Asif Wani a class 9th student from Beeru area who got seriously injured in a blast on Tuesday in Tosamaidan. In August 2018, another man died of a similar blast and three other persons were injured. On the other hand Government in 2015 claimed that  meadow was cleared of all the live shells as Army conducted operation Fallah in the area. We filed a pe...

KNO reports from Indian occupied Kashmir   Srinagar, May 27:  As many as 48 rights groups from different parts of the world, including US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), has written to the World Health Organisation to press the Government of India to restore internet access in Kashmir. In the letter to WHO, the rights groups have stated that India’s authorities have restricted internet access to only slow-speed 2G in J&K from March 2020 after lifting a seven-month blanket internet shutdown in the Union Territory. “We received several reports indicating that residents in Jammu and Kashmir are unable to access information about COVID-19 due to the restriction on high-speed 4G internet access in these areas. Most important, doctors and other health workers who are fighting to prevent the spread of the virus are struggling to download intensive care management guidelines published on various digital platforms in the country,” reads the letter, a copy of which is available ...

‘Galwan valley named after a man of Kashmiri descent who explored it in 1889’ Nasir Azam reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, May 27:  The Galwan river valley, which is the epicenter of a standoff between India and Chinese forces in the newly carved out Union Territory of Ladakh by Modi led Govt of India, has a unique connection with Kashmir Valley. The geographical region is named after Ghulam Rasool Galwan whose ancestors ran away from Kashmir and settled in Ladakh. News agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), researched that Galwan was the first person to explore the Valley in 1899 when he was part of an expedition team that was exploring the areas to the north of the Chang Chenmo Valley. After working with English and American travellers in the region, he was appointed as Akasakal of Ladakh- the chief native assistant of the British Joint Commissioner, who under a commercial treaty between Great Britain and Maharaja of Kashmir, was an authority over the traders meetin...

  UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (APP): United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that countering anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia is his “top priority” and he “fully agrees” with the assessment that it could pose a threat to international peace and security. The UN Chief gave the statement recently at the virtual meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states at the United Nations (UN) in response to the comments from Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, who drew his attention to the rising cases of anti-Muslim violence and Islamophobia in India and urged him to adopt a more focused and consistent system-wide approach to fully tackle the menace. Speaking at the meeting organized by OIC on the theme of “COVID-19 Solidarity: Promoting Co-Existence and Shared Responsibility”, Guterres voiced his concern over the rise of Islamophobia and called for fighting this phenomenon collectively, the informed sources said. In his remarks, Ambass...

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): Pakistan Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday said Pakistan would not stay silent, allowing the fascist Modi government to round up Muslims to be beaten and killed. “Pakistan will not stay silent, allowing the fascist Modi government to round up Muslims to be beaten and killed. To have their nationalities stripped, their livelihoods robbed, their demography changed and their future insecure,” he said on Twitter. The foreign minister’s statement came after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said countering anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia was his “top priority” and he “fully agrees” with the assessment that it could pose a threat to international peace and security. The UN chief gave the statement recently at the virtual meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states at the UN in response to the comments from Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram, who drew his attention to the rising...

  London, May 26: (KW)   Mr Amit Shah Union Home Minister of India Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India   Re: Release human rights defenders at risk in the context of COVID-19   Dear Home Minister,   I am William Nicholas Gomes, a British Human rights activist and freelance journalist.    I am writing to share my great concern regarding the situation of student activists Safoora Zargar, who is four months pregnant, Meeran Haider,  Shifa-Ur-Rehman and Sharjeel Imam,  all detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). We believe their detention is unfounded and designed to punish them for defending human rights and engaging in a peaceful protest against a discriminatory law. Besides, they are being jailed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is unnecessarily putting their lives and health at serious risk. I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release all four activists, as well as other persons...