Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to join India, stating that New Delhi considers them part of the nation. He made this statement during a campaign rally in Jammu and Kashmir, where he also criticized the opposition’s pledge to restore Article 370.
In a significant shift from its long-standing denial, Pakistan has acknowledged its military involvement in the 1999 Kargil War, marking a major development in the narrative surrounding the conflict. This admission comes from Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, who paid homage to soldiers who lost their lives in the war during a recent event. This revelation has sparked widespread discussions, particularly in light of Pakistan’s past claims attributing the conflict to ‘Kashmiri freedom fighters’ or ‘mujahideen’.
Abdul Ghafoor Noorani, a prominent legal scholar and political commentator, passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. His passing has elicited an outpouring of grief, particularly in Kashmir where he was widely respected for his knowledge and contributions to the region. Noorani was known for his extensive writings on law, history, and political science, including books on Kashmir, the RSS, and constitutional issues. He also served as a High Court judge and played a key role in significant legal cases.
A Delhi court has reserved its order on the bail plea of Lok Sabha MP Rashid Engineer, who is in jail in a terror funding case. The court is expected to pronounce its order on September 4th. Engineer Rashid, who was elected from Baramulla constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, has been in jail since 2019 after being arrested by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He is accused of funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir Valley.
Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader, has filed nomination papers for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, despite his recent arrest on terror-funding charges. His daughter is campaigning on his behalf, while the State Investigation Agency (SIA) alleges his involvement in radicalizing the Kashmir Valley through fundraising. The elections will take place in three phases, with the first phase scheduled for September 18th.
India and Indonesia have issued a joint statement condemning the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, specifically targeting Pakistan’s support for terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The statement came after the sixth meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in Jakarta, where both countries discussed strategies to combat terrorism effectively.
The Amarnath Yatra has been suspended on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes due to heavy rainfall. The Baltal route was closed on Sunday for repairs, while the Pahalgam route was closed for maintenance earlier this week. Over 5.10 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine this year.
Two Army personnel were killed and four others injured in a gunfight with terrorists in the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest of Anantnag district, South Kashmir. The encounter occurred during a cordon and search operation based on intelligence reports. Two civilians were also injured in the crossfire.
Indian security forces successfully prevented an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir’s Kupwara, killing two terrorists. This incident comes days after four army soldiers were killed in an encounter with terrorists in the Doda district.
A Kashmiri MP has condemned the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against youth who raised pro-Palestine slogans during a Muharram procession in Srinagar. He argued that India’s long-standing policy of supporting a two-state solution in Palestine makes the charges against the youth illogical and points to a discriminatory application of the law.
