OIC reiterates solidarity with Kashmiri people

JEDDAH, Feb 5 (IINA): Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) while reiterating its firm and full fledged solidarity with the Kashmiri people, has called for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the decades-old Kashmir dispute.

Pakistan sending delegations abroad to highlight Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Chairman Kashmir Committee of parliament, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that Kashmir Committee sees Pak-India composite dialogue as positive step and supports this process as kashmir issue is central point in Pakistan's foreign policy.

Pak supports Kashmir despite external pressure: Mirwaiz

Srinagar: Terming Pakistan as the biggest supporter and advocate for Kashmiris in their struggle of right to self determination, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday said that observing February 5 as ‘Day of solidarity with Kashmir’ since 1975 by Pakistan was an indication of its seriousness in their support to Kashmiris for getting their right to self determination.“

US embassy looks for J-K 'political specialist'

American officers will place substantial reliance on his/her professional judgement and acumen in advising them on a variety of important and sensitive matters, the embassy website says

Srinagar: In a significant move, the US embassy in New Delhi is scouting for a political specialist on Jammu & Kashmir.

Track II diplomacy on Kashmir reactivated

Srinagar: To seek a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, track II diplomacy has been reactivated with Kashmir Committee head and former Union Law Minister, Ram Jeth Malani taking lead role this time.

Mullah Omar wrote to Obama: officials

WASHINGTON: Current and former U.S. officials told a foreign news agency that reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar wrote to President Barack Obama last year indicating an interest in talks key to ending the war in Afghanistan.

AS Khan attends National Prayer Breakfast

Washington: Sardar Ali Shahnawaz Khan Kashmiri Scandinavian Council Executive and advisor to the Chairman of the Norwegian Christian Democratic Party on an invitation from the American Congress has attended the national prayer breakfast with U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama here.


Sardar Ali Shahnawaz Khan has recently met Richard Armitage former Deputy Secretary of State of the United States in Norway.

Thousands denied travel documents in Kashmir for 'adverse reasons'

SRINAGAR: Despite the repeated assurances of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, thousands of people, including former militants and their relatives continue to be on the receiving end due to non-issuance of travel documents by the state authorities.

Books more important than Facebook

“I am more comfortable talking to my friends directly rather than using the wires and wireless medium as a tool of communication,” says Atif Jan who topped the class 12th.

Remove the iron curtain

Let the people of India know the real state of affairs in Kashmir

For how long the people of the country will be kept in dark about the agonizing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the nightmarish experience through which the hapless people have passed and their present predicament with denial of democratic rights and unending chain of human rights abuses?

The unedited Kashmir

The word souvenir means “to remember” in French, and that’s why I still possess a copy of Jakarta Crackdown, a book published in Indonesia in 1997 by the country’s Alliance of Independent Journalists and Institute for Studies on the Free Flow of Information, about a momentous string of events that began in mid-1996.

JKLF played into ISI hands

Current News: You were an active member of JKLF but what forced you to launch the KNP in London.

Shabir Choudhry: JKLF was formed in Birmingham, England in 1977, and I was among its founders. The JKLF believed in a united and independent Jammu and Kashmir free from both countries, and of course from China as well.

Bhagat the Baand

Kashmiri Traditional Performing Arts have witnessed a severe decline from the last couple of decades, but some artists like Ali Mohammad Bhagat have dedicated their entire lives to keep the tradition alive. 85 year old Ali Mohammad Bhagat has been nominated with 50 eminent artists of India for the prestigious Tagore Ratna Award for his services to the Folk Tradition of Bande Paether.

Surankote fake encounter

JAMMU: Two cops, including an SP have been convicted of murder of a colleague, which the culprits had initially tried to project as a fake encounter killing, after more than 13 years of the incident.

No more AFSPA: Army vs state

Truth is the biggest casualty in a war is one fact that the people of Jammu and Kashmir has long come to live in violence and in peace. Since the first footprint of security forces in Kashmir valley more than two decades ago, much water has flown down the river Jhelum.

Sultan asks Germany to send fact-finding mission to IHK

ISLAMABAD - Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister and Pakistan People’s Party central leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry said on Monday that German people and members of German Parliament could better understand the stance of Kashmiri people than other European nations, as they have experienced division of families because of Berlin Wall.

Attique regrets Zafar Shah remarks on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD - Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, ex-Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir/President Muslim Conference, has issued the following statement on the Kashmir remarks of Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the latter made during the course of a Senate Committee meeting here Sunday. Talking to Pakistan Observer here Monday he said: “I was shocked to learn of the remarks of Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah Sahib on Kashmir.

Banned outfits back in action on renewed funding: report

KARACHI: According to a British news agency, banned outfits in Pakistan have spun back into action after renewed funding, Geo News reported.

Afghans blast French plan to withdraw troops

KABUL: France’s plans to withdraw its combat troops from Afghanistan a year early drew harsh words Saturday in the Afghan capital, with critics accusing French President Nicolas Sarkozy of putting his re-election campaign ahead of Afghans’ safety.

Belgian transport workers strike

Brussels: A scheduled strike by transport workers in Belgium on 30th January, threatens knock on disruption throughout Europe.

Europe debt crisis could trigger global recession, warns IMF

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The euro zone debt crisis is escalating and could derail the global economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday as it called for urgent action to restore confidence.

Pakistan confirms US-Taliban talks in Qatar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit, Saturday said that Pakistan, through diplomatic sources, had learned that America and Taliban were holding talks in Qatar, Geo News reported.

Iran warns Saudi against raising oil output

TEHRAN , Jan (Agencies): Iran on Tuesday warned Saudi Arabia to reconsider its vow to make up for any shortfall in Iranian oil exports under new sanctions, saying Riyadh’s pledge to step into the market was unfriendly. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi issued the warning in remarks carried by state media.