Kashmir News Updates: Pakistan to expel India's High Comissioner Ajay Bisaria, call back its envoy

Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit Srinagar tomorrow

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad will visit Srinagar on Thursday. He will hold a meeting with Congress leaders at state Congress unit office.

Landline connections in Valley to be restored soon, says Srinagar deputy commissioner

Srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that landline communication lines will be restored in the Valley soon. “We have stock of fuel for a month, kerosene for two months. Over 150 ambulances are given passes for free movement. (There has been) no serious incident of violence, and no curfew announcement in Srinagar district.  Relaxation (in restrictions) would be given in future, as per the situation,” he said.

Input by News18/Shailandar Wangu

Will send Indian envoy to India, call back our ambassdor: Pakistan

Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that they will send the Indian ambassdor back to India and call back their envoy to Pakistan.

Pakistan to suspend bilateral trade with India, National Security Committee decides after meeting at PM Imran Khan’s office

Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan today chaired meeting of National Security Committee at Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad after a resolution to revoke Article 370 was passed by the Indian parliament. According to ANI , the committee decided on the downgrading of diplomatic relations with India, suspension of bilateral trade with New Delhi and a review of bilateral arrangements between the neighbouring countries.

Schools, colleges to remain closed tomorrow; govt offices, banks to resume services

All schools and colleges will remain closed on Thursday whereas all government offices and banks to resume services from Thursday. Restrictions imposed under Section 144 will continue till further orders.

Congress’ Deepender Hooda says revocation of Article 370 is ‘right decision’

Going against his party’s stand on Article 370, Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda said, “My opinion is that, in today’s situation, Article 370 is no more relevant. When the Article was imposed, Nehru ji had said that it was temporary. I think for the unity of the country and development of Kashmiris, it is the right decision.”

He further said, “I would also like to add that it is the responsibility of the government to include all the mainstream political parties in the procedure. It is necessary to begin the process in an environment of peace. I hope government will take strong steps in this regard.”

Deepender Singh Hooda, Congress on #Article370: My opinion is that in today's situation Article 370 is no more relevant. When the Article was imposed Nehru ji had said that it is temporary. I think for the unity of the country & development of Kashmiris, it is the right decision. pic.twitter.com/D4dLmFSlVb

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Visuals from Ajit Doval’s Shopian visit

Shopian, which is a militancy hotbed, is currently normal and peaceful. 

Government Sources: NSA Ajit Doval visited Shopian which is a hotbed of militancy and was ground zero during Burhan Wani agitation. The region is now normal and peaceful #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/GBPt8bjUrp

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Watch: Ajit Doval interacts with locals in Shopian district

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval interacted with locals in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

#WATCH Jammu and Kashmir: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval interacts with locals in Shopian, has lunch with them. pic.twitter.com/zPBNW1ZX9k

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

NSA Ajit Doval meets security personnel in J&K

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met J&K police officials and security personnel in the presence of DGP Dilbag Singh in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir. 

Jammu and Kashmir: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval meets security personnel in Shopian. DGP Dilbag Singh also present. pic.twitter.com/fMJH00z6uc

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Jammu and Kashmir: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval meets police personnel in Shopian. DGP Dilbag Singh also present. pic.twitter.com/RmYdmdtcUH

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Imran Khan to increase deployment of troops along border

As per a report by CNN News18, Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan is likely to increase the deployment of military personnel along the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of heightened tensions and escalations between the two nations post the passing of the bill to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan to downgrade diplomatic ties with India, reports CNN News18

According to reports, Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan chaired a crucial security meet on Wednesday and took some key decisions regarding movement of troops along the border (LoC). Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign minister Fawad Chaudhary tweeted: “I request the foreign minister, when India is not interested in talking to us then why is their envoy still here? We should cut diplomatic ties with them. What is the use of their envoy being here and our envoy being there?”

Overall situation in state ‘satisfactory’: Governor Satya Pal Malik briefed

The J&K governor was informed by the state police that the overall situation in the state remained satisfactory in all manners. People were seen in markets buying their daily provisions, emergency services in hospitals are functioning, electricity and water supply running satisfactorily

J&K Raj Bhavan: Governor directed Deputy Commissioners of respective districts in Valley to depute their staff to visit different localities & take stock of requirements of people & address them swiftly. He re-iterated his concern for ensuring safety of general public https://t.co/whIqtOvuJJ

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

China voices ‘serious concern’ over situation in J&K 

Asking India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, China on Tuesday said they should avoid actions that “unilaterally” change the status quo and exacerbate tensions between them as it voiced “serious concern” over the situation in Kashmir. Asserting that China’s position on Kashmir was “clear and consistent”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the issue is a legacy of history between India and Pakistan, which is also the consensus of the international community.

Hua, in a written response to queries on exchange of fire along the Line of Control and the Indian government’s move to revoke Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, said China is “seriously concerned” about the current situation in Kashmir. “The parties concerned should exercise restraint and act with caution, especially to avoid actions that unilaterally change the status quo and exacerbate the tension,” she added. “We call on the two sides to peacefully resolve relevant disputes through dialogue and consultation and safeguard regional peace and stability,” she said. 

In a separate statement, the Chinese foreign ministry reacted to India’s decision to create Ladakh as a Union Territory. “China always opposes India’s inclusion of Chinese territory in the western section of the China-India boundary under its administrative jurisdiction,” it said. “This position is firm and consistent and has never changed. The recent unilateral revision of domestic laws by the Indian side continues to undermine China’s territorial sovereignty, which is unacceptable and will not have any effect,” the ministry said. It urged the Indian side “to be cautious in its words and actions on the boundary issue, strictly abide by the relevant agreements reached between the two sides and avoid any move that further complicates the boundary issue.”

PTI

President gives assent to abrogation of Article 370

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of Article 370 read with clause (1) of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, the President, on the recommendation of Parliament, is pleased to declare that, as from the 6th August, all clauses of the said Article 370 shall cease to be operative…,” an official notification said. 

President Ram Nath Kovind notifies the Article 370 gazette, revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution to revoke Article 370 was passed by Lok Sabha yesterday, a day after it was passed by the Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/KJUKnEg9G2

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Mehbooba Mufti is in solitary confinement, has no access to lawyer, says daughter 

Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Javed told NDTV  that the former chief minister is in solitary confinement and “not allowed to talk” to anyone. The J&K leader and PDP chief who was earlier put under house arrest was later shifted to government guest house in Srinagar. 

.@OnReality_Check | "Mehbooba Mufti in solitary confinement, not allowed to talk": Daughter

Watch full interview here: https://t.co/YZg4bK6sXk pic.twitter.com/O3J1kVdG8O

— NDTV (@ndtv) August 7, 2019

Shah Faesal says Kashmir witnessing ‘unprecedented lockdown’, but no incident of violence reported in Valley

Former IAS officer Shah Faesal posted an update on the prevailing situation in the Valley on Facebook on Wednesday, saying that Kashmir is currently witnessing “an unprecedented lockdown”. “You can say that 8 million people have been incarcerated like never before,” he wrote, adding that the prominent politicians of the state like Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah continue to be ‘out of bounds’. However, according to him, no incidents of violence or deaths have been reported and it is “extremely heartening to see Kashmiris calm in face of such adversity”.  

Over 100 arrested in Kashmir after shutdown: Report

Amid a communication shutdown and other restrictions, security agencies have arrested over 100 people, including political leaders and activists, as they were considered a threat to peace and tranquillity in the Kashmir valley, officials said on Wednesday. “Over 100 political leaders and activists have been arrested in the valley so far,” a senior official of the Jammu and Kashmir administration was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

One protester killed, six injured in clashes with police in Srinagar, claims report

 A protester died after being chased by police during a curfew in Srinagar, AFP reported. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying that in one incident a youth being chased by police “jumped into the Jhelum river and died.” A source told AFP that at least six people have been admitted to hospital in Srinagar with gunshot wounds and other injuries from protests.

Rights activists protest in Washington

Muslim rights activists, including members of the Pakistani-American community, held demonstrations outside the Indian Embassy in Washington to protest against the scrapping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. " People of Kashmir deserve independence, deserve their rights and deserve justice, Nihad Awad, national executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “There is a humanitarian crisis brewing in the Kashmir valley,” Awad added urging US to intervene.

UN declines to comment on govt’s move

A spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declined to comment on claims that scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by India is in violation of the Security Council resolutions, reiterating only that the UN chief is following the developments in the region with concern. “I think we’ve expressed our we said very clearly that we are following the developments in the region with concern. Wethe Secretary General’s position at this point is to urge all parties to exercise restraint, Stphane Dujarric said at the daily press briefing on Tuesday.

Indian flag hoisted at civil secretariat 

The Indian was hoisted atop the civil secretariat next to the flag of Jammu and Kashmir, which ceases to hold legitimacy after the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 that had till now, allowed the state to have a separate constitution and flag.

Jammu & Kashmir flag along with Tricolor atop the Civil Secretariat at Srinagar; #Article370 was abrogated and Jammu & Kashmir was made a Union Territory (UT) with legislature, on 5th August. pic.twitter.com/BHCleiOuWE

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Petition filed in SC Against Repeal of J&K special status

In the first legal challenge to the scrapping of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday against the presidential order which abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution. The petition, filed by advocate ML Sharma, termed the presidential order “unconstitutional” and said the government should have taken the parliamentary route to amend the Article.

Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah still under detention

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, earlier kept on house arrest, were detained at shifted to a guest house after Amit Shah announced the big move of ending special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 in the Parliament.

Valley continues to be under lockdown

The Kashmir Valley continues to reel under an unprecedented lockdown as security personnel patrol deserted streets. Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah remained in detention on Wednesday even as several activists of major mainstream parties were being rounded up, said reports.

PM may address nation today

After hailing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill as a ‘momentous ocassion’ after it was passed in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the nation today.

Recap: Lok Sabha passes bill to revoke Article 370 

The government decision to do away with Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh was ratified by the Parliament Tuesday after Lok Sabha gave its go-ahead, clearing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, with an overwhelming majority of 351-72 and a resolution taking away the special status.

LGs for J&K and Ladakh to be appointed today

According to reports, the Lieutenant Governors for the newly bifurcated Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh may be appointed today.