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 says nine militants killed in security operations in northwest
- The intelligence-based operations were conducted in Tank and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Military says the counterterrorism campaign is being pursued under the framework of the National Action Plan
PESHAWAR: Security forces in Pakistan said on Saturday they killed nine militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two intelligence-based operations in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Pakistan refers to fighters of the TTP, an umbrella group of various armed factions, as “khwarij,” a term from early Islamic history used to describe an extremist sect that rebelled against authority. The military also alleges the group receives arms and funding from the Indian government, a charge New Delhi denies.
The two operations were carried out on Dec. 5 in the volatile districts of Tank and Lakki Marwat, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in Tank District,” the statement said. “During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, seven khwarij were sent to hell.”
“Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in Lakki Marwat District,” it added. “In ensuing fire exchange, two more khwarij were effectively neutralized by the security forces.”
ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants, whom it described as “Indian sponsored” and accused of involvement in attacks on security personnel, law enforcement agencies and civilians.
It said follow-up “sanitization operations” were under way as part of the country’s counterterrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, which aims to eliminate what it called foreign-supported militant threats in the country.
