Latest news with #ShujaatAhmadQureshi
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Hajj flights resume in J&K, schools open in border areas
A day after flights started operating from Srinagar airport, Hajj flights also resumed on Wednesday. The flights were suspended on May 7, owing to cross border tensions. Officials said that 642 pilgrims left Srinagar for Delhi from where they would travel to Saudi Arabia. 'The pilgrims flew in four flights from Srinagar airport to Delhi from where they boarded two flights to Saudi Arabia,' said Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, executive officer of the J&K Haj Committee. Also Read | 'Deeply personal': Omar Abdullah assures help for houses affected by Pakistani shelling He said that direct flights from Srinagar to Jeddah could not operate given the recent incidents. 'There was no green signal from Centre to the international flights,' he said. The flight operations at the airport were suspended on May 7 when India targeted terror infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack. Since the attack, the militaries and airforce of the two nations carried out missile and drone attacks on each other till a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Hajj flights from Srinagar were also affected due to the closure of the airport. The first batch of 178 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir had left for Saudi Arabia on May 4 for the annual pilgrimage, but the authorities had to cancel seven flights that were to leave between May 7 and 12. Also Read | 'Don't trust Pakistan': Residents of J&K border areas afraid to return home even after ceasefire understanding Qureshi said that a new schedule will be announced for the seven flights that were cancelled. This year, 3,622 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir and 242 from Ladakh are performing the Hajj pilgrimage. Srinagar airport was to operate 11 Hajj flights between May 4 and 15. Schools, colleges open in border districts A day after the schools and colleges opened in non-border districts of the Valley, the educational institutes at the border areas also became operational on Wednesday. Officials said that schools and colleges opened in Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts. 'The educational institutions opened but the attendance of students was very low. Less than half of students attended class,' said a professor of Degree College Baramulla. However, the educational institutions close to Line of Control in these districts have not yet opened.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: Second batch of Haj Pilgrims to depart from Srinagar today
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 14 (ANI): Days after the first batch of Haj pilgrims in Srinagar left for Saudi Arabia's Mecca to undertake the annual holy pilgrimage, the second batch of Haj pilgrims are also set to depart for Mecca from Srinagar on Wednesday following the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. According to an executive member of the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, a total of 642 pilgrims are scheduled to depart from Srinagar today, and a total of six flights have been arranged for that purpose. He stated that due to the recent tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and India's response to it, seven flights were cancelled, out of which only one has been rescheduled. 'Today we are happy that the Hajj pilgrimage has restarted... But seven flights were cancelled, one of which has been rescheduled for May 15... Those who were leaving for today also faced problems, as the Airbus couldn't arrive at Srinagar Airport and now they have to travel to Delhi and from there they will change flights and leave for Mecca... Today there are two flights from Delhi and from Srinagar; four flights will be there, carrying a total of 642... We faced a lot of problems due to the recent tensions but we have time and we will reach there on schedule,' Qureshi said. A pilgrim who was set to leave for Mecca expressed his relief at the cessation of the hostilities and stated that he prayed for the situation to become normal. 'We just always prayed to allah so that the situation becomes normal... Thank God that the ceasefire took place and now we are able to travel for Haj,' he said. Earlier, the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Srinagar left on May 4 with at least 3,372 Hujjaj Karam, a title bestowed upon the Hajj pilgrims, departing from there that morning. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Tuesday stated that Indian Hajis had left for Umrah from their accommodation in Makkah after spending eight days in Madinah. 'Indian Hajis going for Umrah from their accommodation in Makkah after spending 8 days in Madinah. We wish them a pilgrimage blessed with peace & spiritual fulfilment,' the Ministry of Minority Affairs stated on X yesterday. The Ministry had also launched an 'Haj Suvidha App 2.0' designed to support a safe and well-organised Haj experience equipped with smart baggage tracking. (ANI)
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Hajj flights resume from Srinagar airport after India-Pak ceasefire
SRINAGAR: A day after the Srinagar airport was thrown open for civil flights after normalcy returned in J&K following India-Pakistan ceasefire, the Hajj flights resumed from Srinagar airport on Wednesday. The second batch of Hajj pilgrims left from Srinagar airport to Saudi Arabia's Makkah to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. According to the executive member of the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, 642 Hajj pilgrims are scheduled to leave Srinagar for the pilgrimage today in different flights. It was only the second batch of Hajj pilgrims from Kashmir that left for Hajj pilgrimage today. 'We thank the Almighty that peace has returned to J&K. After seeing a war-like situation last week, we were very tense about whether we could perform Hajj this year, but now we are leaving as per schedule for Saudi Arabia today to perform Hajj after normalcy returned following India-Pakistan ceasefire,' said a Hajj pilgrim.
Mint
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Hajj 2025 flights to resume from Srinagar airport tomorrow. Find full schedule here
India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Flight operations resumed at Srinagar International Airport from Today 13 May, six days after the airport was shut down due to escalating India-Pakistan conflict. The first flight is expected to land at Srinagar airport on Tuesday afternoon. Officials said Hajj 2025 flights will resume taking off from Srinagar airport on Wednesday, 14 May. The first batch of 178 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir left for Saudi Arabia on 4 May for the annual Hajj 2025 pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina cities of Saudi Arabia. Since then no flights could operate. As many as seven flights of the Hajj 2025 pilgrims scheduled to leave on 7 May and 12 May were cancelled. Haj flights from Srinagar will restart on 14 May as per schedule, Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, executive officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee, told reporters in Srinagar. 'There will be three flights on 14, 15 May as per schedule while a new schedule will be announced for the seven flights which were cancelled,' Qureshi said. As many as 3,622 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, and 242 pilgrims from Ladakh are performing the Haj pilgrimage. Srinagar International Airport was scheduled to operate 11 Hajj 2025 flights between 4 and 15 May. National Conference (NC) Chief Spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq welcomed the resumption of Hajj flights from Srinagar Airport. In a statement, he emphasised the urgent need to increase the number of flights to ensure that pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir can complete all Hajj rituals in a timely manner. The flight operations were suspended from Srinagar airport on 7 May after India targeted terror infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Operation Sindoor. The Operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The decision to reopen airports and routes was taken after the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that there were 'no activities' in the border areas in the night intervening Sunday and Monday. While most of these airports resumed operations some airlines, including Indigo and Air India cancelled flight operations from Srinagar and other airports on 13 May. Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities of Islam in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage is performed during a particular period that culminates with Eid-ul-Adha. India-Pakistan Ceasefire: This year, Hajj is expected to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon, marking the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims began their journey to Saudi Arabia from different cities from April end. This year, Hajj is expected to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon, marking the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims began their journey to Saudi Arabia from different cities from April end. There will be three flights on 14, 15 May as per schedule while a new schedule will be announced for the seven flights which were cancelled.
Gulf Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
India reopens 32 airports after ceasefire with Pakistan
India reopened 32 airports on Monday following a weekend ceasefire that ended the worst fighting with neighbouring Pakistan since 1999. The Airport Authority of India said the 32 - from Srinagar in Kashmir to Bhuj in the western state of Gujarat - were now available for civil operations "with immediate effect." They were closed last week after fierce fighting erupted between India and Pakistan for four days, setting off global alarm it could spiral into full-blown war. Leading Indian airline IndiGo said it would "progressively commence operations on the previously closed routes." Security Forces check identity card of airport staff at the entrance road of Amritsar airport, Punjab, on Monday. AFP The truce was announced on Saturday, but both sides immediately accused the other of breaking it. However, both India and Pakistan said the border areas were calm on Monday. Hours after Srinagar international airport figured in the 32 airports of the country where NOTAM was revoked, authorities on Monday issued the revised schedule for departure of Hajj flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia. Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, CEO Hajj committee said in a directive that in supersession to his office notification dated: 10-05-2025, the Haj j Chartered Flights have been resumed. "Accordingly, the flight details alongwith the list of concerned pilgrims scheduled for 14th May, 2025 is hereby published for the information of concerned Haj pilgrims. Agence France-Presse / IANS
