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Daily Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Pakistani orders stockpiling of food as India tensions flare
Pakistan called on residents near the de facto border with India to stockpile food yesterday as tensions flare between the arch-rivals following a deadly attack last month. India blames Pakistan for backing a shooting on civilians at the tourist site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 men. Islamabad has denied the charge and the uneasy neighbours have issued a raft of tit-for-tat punitive diplomatic measures. The two nuclear-armed countries have exchanged gunfire for eight consecutive nights along the militarised Line of Control, the de facto border that separates the contested Kashmir region. 'Instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months in the 13 constituencies along the Line of Control (LoC),' the prime minister of Pakistan's border region, Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, told the local assembly yesterday. The regional government has also created an emergency fund of one billion rupees ($3.5 million) to ensure the supply of 'food, medicines and all other basic necessities' to the 13 constituencies, he said. Government and privately owned machinery was also being deployed to maintain roads in the areas along the LoC, he said. In Muzaffarabad, the region's capital, dozens of protesters rallied under the banner of a Kashmiri political coalition. 'This protest march is a show of solidarity with the Pakistan military,' Farooq Rahmani, one of the organisers of the protest told AFP. 'If there is any misadventure (by India), we are ready to respond firmly,' he added. The attack in Indian Kashmir and subsequent tensions, including expulsions and closed border crossings, have raised fears of a conflagration between India and Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave the military 'complete operational freedom' to respond to the attack. Pakistan said earlier this week it had 'credible evidence' that India is planning an imminent military strike, vowing that any attack would be met with a response.
L'Orient-Le Jour
03-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Pakistani Kashmir calls to ‘stock food' after new overnight firing with India
Pakistani Kashmir called on Friday for its residents to stock food 'for two months' and announced strengthening the supply to villages along the de facto border with the part of this region controlled by India, amid a surge in tensions between the two neighbors. These announcements come as the Indian army reports exchanges of overnight gunfire for the eighth consecutive night between the armies of the two nuclear powers along the Line of Control (LoC), which divides the disputed region over 770 km. 'Instructions have been given' for inhabitants to 'stock food for two months in the 13 districts,' announced the Prime Minister of Pakistani Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq. The regional government has also released an 'emergency fund' of one billion rupees, or more than three million euros, notably to ensure the supply of 'food, medicine, and other essentials,' he continued, addressing the local Parliament. In Muzaffarabad, the major city of Pakistani Kashmir, dozens of protesters gathered at the call of a coalition of Kashmiri parties, chanting 'Death to India!' and calling for 'Jihad!' according to an AFP journalist. One of the organizers, Farooq Rahmani, told AFP that this march was 'a demonstration of solidarity with the Pakistani army and condemnation of the Indian army.' 'If India shows adventurism, we will respond firmly,' he added. An attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22 in Indian Kashmir raises fears of a flare-up between the two traditionally rival countries, born in 1947 from a painful partition following the departure of the British colonizer. New Delhi holds Islamabad responsible for this attack that was never claimed. Pakistan denies any involvement. On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the green light for a military 'response.' Since then, Pakistan claims to have 'credible information' about an imminent Indian strike. Anticipating military actions, Pakistani Kashmir has closed its 1,100 religious schools for ten days. In the 6,000 public schools, still open, local authorities launched first aid training a few days ago.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmiris watch, wait and prepare for war
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir administration called on residents near the Line of Control (LoC) to stockpile food on Friday as tensions flare between the arch-rivals following a deadly attack last month. "Instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months in the 13 constituencies along the Line of Control (LoC)," AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq told the Legislative Council on Friday. The government has also created an emergency fund of Rs1 billion ($3.5 million) to ensure the supply of "food, medicines and all other basic necessities" to the 13 constituencies, he said. Government and privately-owned machinery was also being deployed to maintain roads in the areas along the LoC, he said. In Muzaffarabad, dozens of protesters rallied under the banner of a Kashmiri political coalition, chanting "Death to India" and calling for "Jihad", according to an AFP journalist. "This protest march is a show of solidarity with the Pakistan military," Farooq Rahmani, one of the organisers of the protest told AFP. "If there is any misadventure (by India), we are ready to respond firmly," he added. War fear Nestled between mountains in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, teachers lead school children in the village of Churanda in morning prayers, asking that the sound of swaying walnut trees and cooing birds not be replaced by the roaring of artillery. Though children attended class as usual, "fear among the parents is running high" said teacher Farooq Ahmad, following a deadly attack on tourists which many on both sides of the Line of Control worry could lead to conflict. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir, and countless clashes at the border over the decades. So residents have become used to watching and waiting with dread when tensions between the neighbours soar From Churanda, both Pakistani and Indian soldiers can be seen at their outposts. Elders say at least 18 people have been killed in the village in firing between the two sides over the last few decades. "There are six bunkers in the village for the population of 1500. Both sides are threatening each other. If there is border escalation, where will we go? Fear is there as this village is the worst hit," said Abdul Aziz, a 25-year old resident. On the opposite in AJK, residents of Chakothi village prepared fortified shelters that dot the hillsides near their homes. "People have built bunkers in their homes. They go in the bunkers whenever there is some firing," said Faizan Anayat, 22, who was visiting family on a trip back to Kashmir from Rawalpindi where he works as an air conditioning technician. One of his neighbours, Mohammad Nazir, 73, took a break from preparing the bunker to go to the mosque for Friday prayers as his family's children played cricket near its entrance. "We are not afraid of anything," said Nazir. "Every one of our kids is ready." The head of the Kashmir branch of the Pakistan Red Crescent, Gulzar Fatima, said as soon as the relief group saw tensions rise, they began to mobilise supplies and staff, including first aid providers. In the event of Indian military action, they expect a large-scale migration of people from around the line of control, and were preparing relief camps with tents, hygiene kits and cooking equipment for at least 500 families, she said.
Business Recorder
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
AJK orders stockpiling of food as India tensions flare
MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Kashmir government called on residents near the Line of Control (LOC) with India to stockpile food on Friday as tensions flare between the arch-rivals following a deadly attack last month. 'Instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months in the 13 constituencies along the Line of Control (LoC),' the prime minister of AJK, Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, told the local assembly on Friday. The regional government has also created an emergency fund of one billion rupees ($3.5 million) to ensure the supply of 'food, medicines and all other basic necessities' to the 13 constituencies, he said. Government and privately owned machinery was also being deployed to maintain roads in the areas along the LoC, he said. In Muzaffarabad, the region's capital, dozens of protesters rallied under the banner of a Kashmiri political coalition, chanting 'Death to India' and calling for 'Jihad', according to an AFP journalist. 'This protest march is a show of solidarity with the military,' Farooq Rahmani, one of the organisers of the protest told AFP. 'If there is any misadventure (by India), we are ready to respond firmly,' he added.
CNA
02-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Pakistani Kashmir orders stockpiling of food as India tensions flare
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan-administered Kashmir called on residents near the de facto border with India to stockpile food on Friday (May 2) as tensions flare between the arch-rivals following a deadly attack last month. India blames Pakistan for backing a shooting on civilians at the tourist site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr 22 that killed 26 men. Islamabad has denied the charge and the uneasy neighbours have issued a raft of tit-for-tat punitive diplomatic measures. The two nuclear-armed countries have exchanged gunfire for eight consecutive nights along the militarised Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that separates the contested Kashmir region. "Instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months in the 13 constituencies along the LoC," the prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, told the local assembly on Friday. The regional government has also created an emergency fund of 1 billion rupees (US$3.5 million) to ensure the supply of "food, medicines and all other basic necessities" to the 13 constituencies, he said. Government and privately owned machinery were also being deployed to maintain roads in the areas along the LoC, he said. In Muzaffarabad, the region's capital, dozens of protesters rallied under the banner of a Kashmiri political coalition, chanting "Death to India" and calling for "Jihad", according to an AFP journalist. "This protest march is a show of solidarity with the Pakistan military," Farooq Rahmani, one of the organisers of the protest, told AFP. "If there is any misadventure (by India), we are ready to respond firmly," he added. The attack in Indian Kashmir and subsequent tensions, including expulsions and closed border crossings, have raised fears of a conflagration between India and Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave the military "complete operational freedom" to respond to the attack. Pakistan said earlier this week it had "credible evidence" that India is planning an imminent military strike, vowing that any attack would be met with a response. Fearing a military escalation, authorities in Pakistani Kashmir shut more than 1,000 religious schools for 10 days on Thursday. India and Pakistan, which both claim Kashmir in full, have fought over the Himalayan territory since the end of British rule in 1947.
