Latest news with #India-administeredKashmir
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
World's highest railway bridge opens in conflict-hit Kashmir
SRINAGAR — The world's highest railway bridge, an ambitious piece of engineering across a mountain valley in Kashmir, was opened Friday by Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, just weeks after a deadly tourist massacre in the Himalayan region sparked a brief conflict with neighboring Pakistan. Modi's visit to India-administered Kashmir was his first since a brief but deadly conflict between India and Pakistan in April. The nuclear-armed neighbors traded missiles, drones, and artillery shelling for four days after New Delhi blamed the massacre on its neighbor, which Pakistan denies. Decades in the making, the arched Chenab Bridge sits 359 meters (about 1,180 feet) above the river of the same name – that's 29 meters (over 95 feet) higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower. Costing more than $160 million with a length of 1,315 meters (4,314 feet), the bridge is part of the first railway link between Kashmir and the rest of India. Modi's Hindu-nationalist government has moved to integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country, including revoking a constitutional provision that allowed it to set its own laws in 2019. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is claimed by India, Pakistan and China. All three administer a part of the region, one of the most militarized zones in the world. In addition to the Chenab Bridge, Modi also inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, which connects key cities in India-administered Kashmir to the rest of India. For Modi, who swept to power more than a decade ago on a ticket of nationalism and a promise of future greatness, investments in infrastructure like the Chenab Bridge and the broader rail link project can be seen as a powerful tool for social integration and political influence. Since he was first elected in 2014, the prime minister has rapidly expanded the region's road and rail connectivity, building networks that connect disparate towns with major cities. In 2019, New Delhi revoked a constitutional provision giving India-administered Kashmir the autonomy to set its own laws. The southern and eastern portions of the region known previously as the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir became two separate union territories, bringing them under direct control of New Delhi – a move Modi claimed would promote stability, reduce corruption and boost the economy. The Chenab Bridge is being hailed as a major win for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party government. His administration has poured billions into upgrading India's old and outdated transport network, part of its vision to transform the country into a developed nation by 2047. Among these ambitious projects is the construction of several tunnels and highways in the mountainous Himalayan region which has been criticized by some environmentalists who say the heavy construction could damage fragile topography already feeling the effects from the climate crisis. Modi's Char Dham Highway project, a multimillion-dollar infrastructure plan to improve connectivity in the state of Uttarakhand, came under fire in November 2023 when an under-construction mountain tunnel collapsed, trapping dozens of workers inside for several days with little water and oxygen. In August that year, more than a dozen workers were killed after a bridge under construction collapsed in the northeastern state of Mizoram. In June, a four-lane concrete bridge that was being built across the River Ganges in the eastern state of Bihar collapsed for the second time in just over a year, raising questions about the quality of its construction. — CNN
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Modi visits restive Indian region to inaugurate world's highest railway bridge
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first trip to the restive Kashmir region since April's deadly tourist massacre, to inaugurate the world's highest railway bridge. His Friday visit to India-administered Kashmir comes weeks after a brief but deadly conflict between India and Pakistan. The nuclear-armed neighbors traded missiles, drones, and artillery shelling for four days after New Delhi blamed the massacre on its neighbor, which Pakistan denies. Decades in the making, the arched Chenab Bridge sits 359 meters (about 1,180 feet) above the river of the same name – that's 29 meters (over 95 feet) higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower. Costing more than $160 million with a length of 1,315 meters (4,314 feet), the bridge is part of the first railway link between Kashmir and the rest of India. Modi's Hindu-nationalist government has moved to integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country, including revoking a constitutional provision that allowed it to set its own laws in 2019. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is claimed by India, Pakistan and China. All three administer a part of the region, one of the most militarized zones in the world. In addition to the Chenab Bridge, Modi also inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, which connects key cities in India-administered Kashmir to the rest of India. For Modi, who swept to power more than a decade ago on a ticket of nationalism and a promise of future greatness, investments in infrastructure like the Chenab Bridge and the broader rail link project can be seen as a powerful tool for social integration and political influence. Since he was first elected in 2014, the prime minister has rapidly expanded the region's road and rail connectivity, building networks that connect disparate towns with major cities. In 2019, New Delhi revoked a constitutional provision giving India-administered Kashmir the autonomy to set its own laws. The southern and eastern portions of the region known previously as the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir became two separate union territories, bringing them under direct control of New Delhi – a move Modi claimed would promote stability, reduce corruption and boost the economy. The Chenab Bridge is being hailed as a major win for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party government. His administration has poured billions into upgrading India's old and outdated transport network, part of its vision to transform the country into a developed nation by 2047. Among these ambitious projects is the construction of several tunnels and highways in the mountainous Himalayan region which has been criticized by some environmentalists who say the heavy construction could damage fragile topography already feeling the effects from the climate crisis. Modi's Char Dham Highway project, a multimillion-dollar infrastructure plan to improve connectivity in the state of Uttarakhand, came under fire in November 2023 when an under-construction mountain tunnel collapsed, trapping dozens of workers inside for several days with little water and oxygen. In August that year, more than a dozen workers were killed after a bridge under construction collapsed in the northeastern state of Mizoram. In June, a four-lane concrete bridge that was being built across the River Ganges in the eastern state of Bihar collapsed for the second time in just over a year, raising questions about the quality of its construction.
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
India-Pakistan Indus water pact still on hold despite ceasefire, say officials
A view of the Uri-II hydroelectric project dam on the Jhelum River which flows from Indian Kashmir into Pakistan-administered Kashmir, near Uri in India-administered Kashmir's Baramulla district, May 7, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article A key water-sharing pact between India and Pakistan remains suspended, four government sources told Reuters, despite the countries reaching a ceasefire deal on Saturday after days of deadly fighting. The Indus Waters Treaty, mediated by the World Bank in 1960, regulates the division of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between the South Asian nations. India pulled out of it last month after a deadly attack targeting Hindu tourists in Kashmir that it said was backed by Islamabad. Pakistan denied involvement in the violence and had said it was preparing international legal action over the suspension of the treaty, which ensures water for 80% of its farms. "Indus Waters Treaty was not really a part of (ceasefire) discussions," said a source from Pakistan's water ministry. An Indian government source also told Reuters there was "no change in stand" on the treaty. There was no immediate response from India's foreign ministry on the matter, or from officials at Pakistan's water ministry and the information minister. The pact was one of many tit-for-tat measures taken by the South Asian nations after the Kashmir attack, including closure of land borders, suspension of trade, and a pause on issuance of almost all categories of visas to each other's citizens. Two sources from the Indian government told Reuters that all measures taken against Pakistan, including on trade and visas, would remain in place despite the pause in violence between the countries. India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. India and Pakistan had engaged in daily clashes since Wednesday when India struck multiple locations in Pakistan that it said were "terrorist camps". Fighting paused on Saturday evening with the countries reaching what Pakistan termed a "ceasefire agreement" and India called an agreement to "stop all firing and military action."
Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
India-Pakistan water treaty remains suspended despite ceasefire, sources say
FILE PHOTO: A view of the Uri-II hydroelectric project dam on the Jhelum River which flows from Indian Kashmir into Pakistan-administered Kashmir, near Uri in India-administered Kashmir's Baramulla district, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo NEW DELHI/KARACHI - A key water-sharing pact between India and Pakistan remains suspended, four government sources told Reuters, despite the countries reaching a ceasefire agreement on Saturday after days of deadly fighting. The Indus Waters Treaty, mediated by the World Bank in 1960, regulates the division of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between the South Asian nations. India pulled out of it last month after a deadly attack targeting Hindu tourists in Kashmir that it said was backed by Islamabad. Pakistan denied involvement in the violence and had said it was preparing international legal action over the suspension of the treaty, which ensures water for 80% of its farms. "Indus Waters Treaty was not really a part of (ceasefire) discussions," said a source from Pakistan's water ministry. An Indian government source also told Reuters there was "no change in stand" on the treaty. There was no immediate response from India's foreign ministry on the matter, or from officials at Pakistan's water ministry and the information minister. The pact was one of many tit-for-tat measures taken by the South Asian nations after the Kashmir attack, including closure of land borders, suspension of trade, and a pause on issuance of almost all categories of visas to each other's citizens. Two sources from the Indian government told Reuters that all measures taken against Pakistan, including on trade and visas, would remain in place despite the pause in violence between the countries. India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. India and Pakistan had engaged in daily clashes since Wednesday when India struck multiple locations in Pakistan that it said were "terrorist camps". Fighting paused on Saturday evening with the countries reaching what Pakistan termed a "ceasefire agreement" and India called an agreement to "stop all firing and military action." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time Magazine
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
How India and Pakistan Can Step Back From the Brink
Early Wednesday morning, India carried out air strikes in Pakistan's Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In a statement, New Delhi said they targeted terrorist infrastructure and that the strikes were in retaliation for the Apr. 22 attack that killed 26 tourists in India-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. As I wrote for TIME several days ago, some type of Indian military action was widely expected. While New Delhi described the operation as non-escalatory, this is clearly not how Pakistan—which denies any involvement in the Apr. 22 attack—viewed them. It denounced the strikes, the most intense in Pakistan since a 1971 conflict, as an 'act of war.' It claimed they hit civilian targets, including a mosque, and killed at least 31 people. Pakistan immediately launched a response, including intense shelling on India's side of the de facto border, which India's army said killed at least 15 civilians. Pakistan also claims to have downed several Indian jets in India-administered Kashmir (Indian officials acknowledged the crash of three Indian planes, but they say the reasons aren't clear). Escalation risks are extremely high, given the scale of hostilities and the dark moods in both capitals. With India having hit Punjab—Pakistan's most populous and prosperous province, and home to the capital and military headquarters—Pakistan may opt to strike targets beyond India-administered Kashmir. That then raises the risk of additional Indian strikes on Pakistan, including military sites—and especially if the initial Pakistani response, as claimed by Islamabad, went after Indian military targets. Under such scenarios, it would be hard not to worry about the risk of nuclear escalation. With the crisis evolving so quickly, speculation about possible next moves and countermoves has limited utility. The better question to ask is what will it take to get to de-escalation. Many key capitals—Washington, London, Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi—are on friendly terms with both India and Pakistan and will be working the phones in the coming hours and days to urge the two sides to come back from the brink. But that will only be effective if they can convince New Delhi and Islamabad that their interests are best served by opting for off-ramps. During the last few India-Pakistan crises, in 2016 and 2019, de-escalation came relatively quickly. But the scale and intensity of hostilities was not nearly as high as now. Ultimately, for the two sides to agree to wind down, they'll need to be able to claim a victory that allows them to save face. India might believe its initial strikes constitute that victory. Its stated goal was to degrade the militant infrastructure that it claims facilitated the Kashmir attack. Its military operations did hit areas, particularly in Punjab, known to house the two most potent anti-India jihadist groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). (CBS News reportedly obtained a statement from JeM leader Masood Azhar claiming India's strikes killed 10 of his family members and four 'close associates.' Whereas in 2019, India took heat from Pakistan and independent analysts who argued that strikes in Khyber-Pakhtunkwa province meant to hit JeM targets instead simply hit trees.) New Delhi may feel it can point to the scale of today's strikes, and their location, to justify this to the Indian public as mission accomplished. Pakistan's criteria for being able to claim victory are tougher to decipher. Ideally, it will want to get to a point where it believes it has restored deterrence against the kind of actions New Delhi undertook Wednesday morning. It may also settle for a more concrete achievement that represents a considerable blow to the Indian military; if the Indian jets that crashed are proven to have been downed by the Pakistani military, that could provide a potential off-ramp for Islamabad to embrace. But given the state of play, with Pakistan having described the Indian strikes as an act of war, Islamabad may be looking to achieve more against India. And if Pakistan ramps up its response, India may no longer be content to call it a day after its initial operation. Today, India and Pakistan are arguably closer to war than at any time in recent years. The risk isn't merely one of escalation. It's also the fear that it will take dangerously long for each side to be incentivized to pursue de-escalation.
