ISLAMABAD: The Indian security clampdown in disputed Kashmir region has left families on both sides of the border divided and out of communication since phone lines and Internet service are down in the Indian administered part of Kashmir for more than 10 days now following New Delhi’s controversial move to repeal special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.
Kashmiris living in Pakistan administered side of the contested territory express grave concern over the well-being of their loved ones on the other side of the border mainly due to their inability to contact them.
Furqan Hashmi, a student hailing from Srinagar in his fourth-year at a medical college in Sindh, said that he could not even inform his family about his safe arrival to Pakistan.
“I left my home in Srinagar on August 4 when there was no curfew. My mother asked me to inform her immediately after arriving in Islamabad. After going through visa formalities in New Delhi, I crossed Wagah border on August 11 but could not tell my mother about it.”
Hashmi, who worries greatly about his family’s safety, said this mother has no means of reaching him. “Someone should tell my mother that I am safe here,” he appealed.
Mir Mushtaq, who came from Ganderbal district of Indian administered Kashmir and is now living in Rawalpindi, told Arab News that his entire family is living in Ganderbal including his mother, younger brother and three sisters.
“I met them 6 years back when they visited me here,” said Mushtaq, adding that “my mother was worried, when I last talked to her on August 4. She was ill and I am not sure how she is doing now, whether she is able to get her medicines or not?”
Mushtaq is also worried about his business as he is associated with trade across the Line of Control (LOC). “I am having financial problems due to suspension of trade on LOC,” he said. “All the Kashmiris are now looking at Pakistan,” he added.
Syeda Rabia Bashir, a Kashmiri woman from Srinagar married to her cousin living in Muzaffarabad, told Arab News that she was unable to contact any of her family members since Monday (August 5). “I don’t know if my father who was seriously unwell is even alive or not. I don’t know if my family has enough food,” she said.
“My father, five of my brothers and a sister all live in Srinagar. They are in trouble and I am passing through a great torment.” She added that the situation was taking a toll on her health as she had to start taking anti-depressant for the past two weeks.
Shaukat Lone, who lives in Manak Payan refugee camp in Muzaffarabad, said that India had turned Kashmir into a “prison.”
“My mother told me on August 3 that there is huge deployment of army troops in the area and public announcements have been made to store ration and medicines. It seems as though war is about to start.” All the Kashmiris living in refugee camps in Pakistan are deeply worried for their family members on the other side of the LOC, said Lone.
Another Kashmiri, Manzoor Ahmad, who came to Muzaffarabad from Sopor district in 2006 and runs a small business in Islamabad now, told Arab News that hundreds of families were affected by the situation across the LOC and were currently out of touch with their dear ones.
“For the first time, I could not wish Eid greetings to my mother and sister since I left my village,” said Ahmad. He added that his concerns about his family were increasing with each passing day. “I could not establish any contact with my mother and sister since Monday (August 5). I am really worried about my nephews as Indian forces are very hostile to young children.” Ahmad added that “despite all these difficulties, Kashmiris are determined to fight the tyrant forces.”
Thousands of Kashmiris have crossed over the LOC leaving the Indian-administered side for Pakistan since 1990, after violence escalated there. An estimated 38,000 refugees from Indian administered Kashmir are residing either in the refugee camps near Muzaffarabad or settled in different cities of Pakistan. These Kashmiris still have their close family members stuck across the border and for decades, their mode of communication remained mainly telephone line and only recently through video calls via different applications, which is completely disrupted by the recent Indian restrictions.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in a recent statement, expressed concern over the curtailment of religious freedom of the Kashmiri Muslims in the Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir including a complete lock-down on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.
Human rights organizations like the Amnesty International have already condemned the additional deployment of thousands of Indian security forces, a blanket ban on telephone and Internet services, and restrictions on peaceful assembly in the disputed Kashmir valley.
Kashmiri families divided by LoC fear for each other’s well-being
Kashmiri families divided by LoC fear for each other’s well-being
- An estimated 38,000 refugees from Indian administered Kashmir are residing in Pakistani side of the disputed territory
- Indian security clampdown in Kashmir with telecommunication services cut has left families fearing for each others' well-being.
Pakistan weekly inflation records slight decrease after rising for three consecutive weeks
- Major decrease observed in prices of tomatoes, electricity, potatoes, eggs, liquefied petroleum gas and wheat flour
- Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation eased further to 4.1 percent in Dec. 2024, according to the country’s statistics bureau
ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), has witnessed a slight decrease in Pakistan, the country’s statistics bureau said this week, after increasing for three weeks in a row.
The SPI, which comprises 51 essential items collected from 50 markets in 17 cities, is computed on a weekly basis to assess the price movement of essential commodities at a shorter interval of time to review the price situation in the country.
The SPI for the week ending on Jan. 2 decreased 0.26 percent on a week-on-week basis, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Weekly inflation last decreased by 0.34 percent in Pakistan in the week ending on Dec. 5.
“During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 18 (35.29 percent) items increased, 10 (19.61 percent) items decreased and 23 (45.10 percent) items remained stable,” the PBS said in its report.
Major decrease was observed in the prices of tomatoes (13.48 percent), electricity charges for Q1 (7.48 percent), potatoes (5.59 percent), eggs (0.23 percent), garlic (0.21 percent), liquefied petroleum gas (0.18 percent) and wheat flour (0.09 percent).
The items whose prices increased during the week included chicken (10.28 percent), onions (4.93 percent), bananas (1.68 percent), diesel (1.18 percent), sugar (0.95 percent), jaggery (0.58 percent), vegetable ghee 2.5 Kg (0.53 percent) and petrol (0.21 percent).
Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation eased further to 4.1 percent in Dec. 2024, according to the PBS. Consumer inflation cooled from 4.9 percent in November, a sharp drop from a multi-decade high of nearly 40 percent in May 2023.
Pakistan condemns Israel’s ‘deliberate’ targeting of Gaza hospitals, calls for accountability
- The statement comes a week after Israeli forces burned Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, forcefully removing patients and staff
- Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 people and forced hundreds of thousands to migrate since Oct. 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned Israel’s “deliberate” targeting of hospitals, medical personnel, patients and the wounded in Gaza, and called for its accountability over attacks on health infrastructure and other “war crimes,” Pakistani state media reported on Saturday.
The statement came a week after Israeli forces burned Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza and forcefully removed patients and medical staff from the facility, hospital officials said.
In its campaign since Oct. 2023 attacks by Hamas, Israel’s military has targeted hospitals, schools and residential neighborhoods in Gaza, killing more than 45,000 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to migrate, according to Palestinian officials.
“Deliberate targeting of hospitals, medical personnel, patients and the wounded defies every principle of international humanitarian law and has no justification,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, Pakistan’s alternate permanent representative to the United Nations, was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
“There must be accountability for such actions and not just condemnation,” he told a UN Security Council session on the collapse of health services in besieged Gaza.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The South Asian country has dispatched several relief consignments for Gaza, besides establishing the ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund’ that aims to collect public donations for the war-affected people.
Speaking further at the UNSC session, the Pakistani diplomat called for a “decisive action” for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to halt bloodshed and destruction in Gaza and lifting of the enclave’s inhumane blockade to ensure free flow of food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid for those in desperate need.
Protesters block key Pakistan-China trade route over power outages in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Residents report facing 20-hour outages despite the construction of several power stations
- Officials say the region relies on hydropower, which is disrupted in winter due to freezing rivers
KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: A key land route connecting Pakistan and China was blocked indefinitely by angry protesters in northern Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, as hundreds of them staged sit-ins against prolonged power outages in the region.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH), a vital trade route between the two countries, was obstructed at Ali Abad, a significant point in the Hunza Valley. The area has witnessed a gradual increase in trade activity following an agreement between Pakistan and China to keep the Khunjerab Pass open year-round to facilitate economic exchanges.
Last month, Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation conducted its first international cargo transportation via the border, moving goods from China to the United Arab Emirates.
“Hunza is experiencing severe power outages,” Zahoor Ilahi, a protest leader from the Awami Workers Party, told Arab News over the phone. “That’s why we have blocked the Karakoram Highway.”
“The highway has been blocked for all kinds of traffic at Ali Abad since afternoon, and we will not end the sit-in until our demands are met,” he added. “The government is not running the thermal station generators, and all parts of Hunza are facing over 20 hours of power crisis.”
Protests were also held in other parts of Hunza, including Sost and Gulmit, with shutter-down strikes observed against the prolonged power crisis.
“There has been no progress in the power sector for the last three to four years in Hunza,” Rehan Shah, a local resident of the area, told Arab News. “The speed of work on the power projects is very slow, and all residents want an uninterrupted supply of electricity.”
Shah said the protests were jointly organized by various political parties and trade associations in the region.
Meanwhile, protests were also observed in other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Danyor in Gilgit city.
Speaking to Arab News, Advocate Ehsan Ali, president of the Awami Action Committee, said that most districts in the region were facing prolonged power cuts.
“The duration of the power crisis in Gilgit city is about 20 hours,” he said. “Skardu is facing 21 to 22 hours of power cuts, and Hunza is also experiencing the same. Similarly, districts like Ghizer and Chilas are also dealing with the worst kind of power outages.”
“Millions of rupees have been spent on power projects, but unfortunately, none are producing enough electricity,” he said. “In the 21st century, electricity is still unavailable here.”
Hamid Hussain, an engineer at the Gilgit-Baltistan Water and Power Department, acknowledged the issue but attributed it to technical reasons, saying the region heavily relied on hydropower, which often faced disruption in winter due to the freezing of rivers and lakes.
“There are 137 power stations in Gilgit-Baltistan,” he told Arab News. “The installed capacity of these power stations is 190 megawatts. However, power generation is 140 megawatts during the summer while 76 megawatts during the winter due to the low flow of water.”
“The residents of Hunza are demanding thermal generators,” he added. “But we can’t run them due to financial reasons. There are many thermal generators in Gilgit, but we can’t fulfill people’s demand due to the high fuel cost.”
Hussain said his department would run the thermal generators to reduce the power crisis if the government decided to release funds.
Pakistan’s Saim Ayub ruled out of second South Africa Test after twisting right ankle
- Ayub fell awkwardly in the outfield and was visibly in lot of pain as he received brief treatment on the ground
- South Africa dominated the day 1 at Newlands and piled up 316 for four, with Ryan Rickelton hitting 176 not out
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan had an injury scare when opening batter Saim Ayub twisted his right ankle on the field on day 1 of the second and final Test against South Africa on Friday.
Ayub fell awkwardly in the outfield and was visibly in lot of pain as he received brief treatment on the ground before he was rushed to a hospital for precautionary scans.
The opening batter has been ruled out of further participation in the second Test, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“Saim underwent X-rays and MRI tests this afternoon and the reports have been sent to specialists in London for further advice on the treatment and time away from competitive cricket,” the PCB said in a statement.
South Africa dominated the day 1 of the second Test at Newlands and piled up 316 for four, with Ryan Rickelton hitting 176 not out. He shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 235 with his captain, Temba Bavuma, who made 106.
South Africa have already sealed a place in June’s World Test Championship final with a dramatic two-wicket win in the first test at Centurion.
Pakistan issues 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for Hindu saint’s birth anniversary in Sindh
- Shiv Avtari Sant Shadaram Sahib was born in 1708 in Lahore, which is now part of Pakistan
- Pakistani charge d’affaires in India says his country is committed to facilitating devotees
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi announced on Friday the issuance of 94 visas to Indian pilgrims to attend the birth anniversary of a revered 18th-century Hindu spiritual leader in the southern province of Sindh.
Shiv Avtari Sant Shadaram Sahib was born in 1708 in Lahore, now part of Pakistan. Known for his spiritual teachings and emphasis on universal love, he is believed to be an incarnation of Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism, by his followers.
His most notable legacy is the founding of Shadani Darbar, a prominent Hindu temple and spiritual center located in Hayat Pitafi, situated in Ghotki District, which became a pilgrimage destination.
“@PakinIndia has issued 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from 05-15 January 2025,” the high commission posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
It mentioned that the Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich wished the pilgrims a “rewarding and fulfilling journey,” emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to preserving sacred religious sites and facilitating pilgrimages.
Religious tourism remains a key aspect of cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan, governed by the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. This agreement allows devotees from both countries to visit sacred sites, including Hindu temples in Pakistan and Islamic shrines in India. However, political tensions between the two nations have at times disrupted these exchanges, with instances where visas were denied to religious pilgrims.
In recent years, Pakistan has actively promoted religious tourism, welcoming Buddhist monks as well as Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from India and across the globe. The inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019, which allows visa-free travel for Indian Sikhs to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, is a significant milestone in these efforts.
Each year, a large number of Indian Sikhs also travel to Pakistan to pay homage at sacred sites, including Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Samadhi in Lahore, the last resting place of the founder of the Sikh Empire, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, revered for its connection to Guru Nanak.
