Former prime minister of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and senior separatist leaders in Srinagar during his visit to the Valley. Chaudhary, the first senior politician from PoK to visit Kashmir since 1947, is on a four-day visit to the Valley to attend the marriage ceremony of a prominent businessman and his friend.
The Act says the Legislative Assembly of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir may make laws for the whole or any part of the Union Territory with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the state list of the Constitution except the subjects mentioned in entries one and two -- 'public order' and 'police' respectively -- or the Concurrent List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
Former Army chief General V P Malik has observed that India must step up its vigil along the Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh as its eastern neighbour might try to "forcefully occupy" Indian territories. "India should remain vigilant from the evil designs of China which may forcibly occupy some of the territories in north-west and in Arunachal Pradesh," he said.
'It reminded me of the Ramayana, a story that runs in every Indian's blood.'
Pakistan's offer to normalise relations with India is an attempt to buy temporary peace due to its economic and politico-strategic compulsions, notes Brigadier Narender Kumar (retd).
A total of nine persons, including two residents of PoK, were supposed to cross the Chakan-da-bagh post on Poonch-Rawalkote road to go to PoK, the sources said.
The Lashkar-e-Tayiba is raising a group of 21 female terrorists at its training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for carrying out sabotage activities in India, army sources said on Tuesday.
Nearly half a million people in Pakistan have been hit by the deadliest flood in the country's history that has claimed over 230 lives, as authorities braced to save major towns along the swollen Chenab river, which has left a trail of devastation.
"The response to the rehabilitation policy (for militants in PoK) has been better than expected. We have received 600 to 700 applications," Omar told media persons in Srinagar.
The latest updates on the fallout of one of the most daring strikes carried out by the Indian Army, attacking terrorists across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
She wrote this in reply to an article about the proceedings of Bombay high court during the hearing of the stay order plea by the actor's lawyer against the demolition drive of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation at her property.
The European Parliament has urged India and Pakistan to resume dialogue in pursuit of a peaceful solution in Kashmir, while urging for 'normalcy' in the region.
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir on Sunday hit back at his favourite target former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for his latest jibe against India PM Narendra Modi and the Indian armed forces.
Some of the reaction to India's bombing on Pak terror camps.
'The picture only looks worse from where Bajwa sits.' 'He sees a domineering India to the east, an unravelling Afghanistan and a complex Iran to the west, an overbearing China on the north and a US which is no longer an ally,' observes Shekhar Gupta.
"Now there presence is mainly because of infrastructure development. We are aware that the Chinese are assisting in construction of a highway...a large number of dams and infrastructure projects have been developed by the Chinese in PoK as well as the northern areas. These areas are very close to the LoC," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Army's northern command Lt General K T Parnaik said.
On the release of political leaders, the functionary said the administration is taking step-by-step decisions.
At least 200 people were killed and more than 1,300 others injured today as a powerful 7.5- magnitude earthquake -- the strongest in 10 years --rocked Pakistan, sending severe shock waves as far as Punjab and PoK.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday reviewed the security situation in the country, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval and other top officials.
Qureshi urged for unity among political parties in Pakistan on Kashmir and warned that doing politics on the issue would harm the cause.
'A firm national resolve can only deter and defeat the nefarious designs of the adversary,' notes Rup Narayan Das.
Senior officials said that while AIR has a service in Baloch language, which commenced in 1974, the broadcaster is now looking to augment the news bulletin component.
In yet another arrest in the Udhampur attack, National Investigation Agency on Tuesday booked an alleged overground worker of banned LeT outfit who had transported four terrorists from one place in Kashmir to another after they infiltrated into the Valley.
Hundreds of university students, including foreigners, are being trained in militant camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to wage 'jihad' against India, BBC Urdu Service has reported.After a lull, several militant outfits have increased their activities in and around Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, and pro-Jihad slogans can be seen on the walls of the city, said the report.
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that army should reopen the alleged Patribal fake encounter case so that "the justice is served".
The map displayed by PDP during a power point presentation yesterday showed Aksai Chin and Karakoram region painted in red and part of China and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in green.
Parrikar also said that if anybody decides to attack India, he will not remain silent.
The wife and son of Syed Salahuddin, head of the PoK-based Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, have been given security clearance for issuance of passports which they had sought for performing Haj pilgrimage.
Normal life was affected in Jammu on Saturday due to a three-hour 'chakka jam' called by Bharatiya Janata Party protesting the surrender policy for youths who went to PoK for arms training and demanding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah withdraw his statement on accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
'China's deep involvement in the stability and economic and political success of Pakistan actually produces some elements of congruence with India's core interest in a stable and productive relationship with Pakistan.' 'It is not far-fetched for us to pursue that congruence and with ingenuity work out with China a formula that also satisfies our formal position on PoK,' argues Ambassador Kishan S Rana.
Modi said both India and China need to be "sensitive" to each other's strategic interests and called for specific actions to "prevent growth of negative perception".
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
Two terrorist strikes targeted Shia religious gatherings in southern port city of Karachi and Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Sunday, injuring nearly 25 people.
The much-talked about surrender policy for youths who had exfiltrated from Jammu and Kashmir between 1989 and 2009 for arms training and have a change of heart now was cleared on Monday by the state cabinet.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused the United Progressive Alliance government of overturning India's Kashmir policy by making 'dangerous' proposals like facilitating the return of Kashmiri youths from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. "The government is now saying that the young men who had gone to PoK for arms training have had a change of heart and proposes to facilitate their return to India. This is a dangerous statement and is not in favour of the country," said BJP
Justifying his demand for the policy during the CMs' meet in New Delhi, Abdullah said: "A pragmatic policy to this effect is the need of the hour. The state government had proposed it after taking into consideration all pros and cons so that it is not misused at any level". He said the Centre and the state governments should work out the policy in a manner without hampering the national interests at any level but pave way for the militants to return to normal life.
With its ultras in Jammu and Kashmir constantly on the run in the wake of stepped up operations by security agencies, the Hizbul Mujahideen has asked its POK-based leadership to sneak into India and strike in a big way.
The official media of the Communist nation has said that America was 'poking its nose' into Sino-Pak ties, using 'India's hand' with 'hyped up' reports of the presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday reiterated Pakistan's 'political, moral and diplomatic' support to Kashmiris on the Kashmir issue. During a meeting with prime minister Muhammad Yaqoob Khan of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Zardari said, "Pakistan has always been committed to extending political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir." They exchanged views on various development projects initiated in PoK.
Naidu said terrorism is the enemy of humanity as it has no religion and it has unfortunately become Pakistan's state policy.
