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Man Shot Dead Over Property Dispute in J&K’s Samba Accused Arrested

Representational Image

Shivam Bakshi

Samba, October 5 (NVI): A man was shot dead allegedly following a property dispute in Jakh area of Vijaypur in Samba district on Monday evening, officials said.

According to officials, the accused opened fire at the victim during the dispute, resulting in his death.

He said the weapon used in the offence belonged to the deceased.

Following the incident, Vijaypur Police arrested the accused, officials said.

A case has been registered at the concerned police station and further investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident, officials added.—(NVI)

India, Switzerland sign 5 agreements; to boost trade & investment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Delhi today

New Delhi, Oct 5 (NVI) India and Switzerland today signed five agreements, including a migration and mobility partnership, an exchange programme for young professionals and a pact to promote cooperation in transportation technologies, mobility systems and infrastructure development.

The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, defence, nuclear energy and infrastructure as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with visiting Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Parmelin began his three-day state visit to India on Monday. It is his first state visit to the country and his second visit this year after he attended the AI Impact Summit in February.

The two sides also agreed to expand market access for Indian exports to Switzerland and facilitate greater Swiss investment in India.

Modi said the move would boost exports of Indian agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, textiles and engineering goods while attracting Swiss investment in sectors including biotechnology, life sciences, banking, insurance, food processing and sustainability.

Switzerland is a major economic partner for India in Europe, with more than 330 Swiss companies operating in India across sectors such as engineering, services, precision instruments, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the four EFTA states — Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway — came into force in October. Modi described the pact as an “ambitious blueprint” for investment, innovation and jobs.

“Through this, we will realise our goals of USD100 billion in investment and one million direct jobs in India over the next 15 years,” Modi said.

Parmelin said Switzerland hoped to conclude an investment protection agreement with India soon to further facilitate investment flows. He also stressed the importance of progress on intellectual property protection.

On infrastructure cooperation, Modi highlighted Swiss involvement in projects such as the ropeway in Varanasi, Jewar Airport in Noida and railway and tunnelling projects in hilly regions. He invited Swiss companies to participate in large-scale investments, capacity building, design and manufacturing in India.

The two leaders also discussed expanding military exchanges and defence production and agreed to deepen cooperation in nuclear energy. New joint research projects in health, clean energy and space are also expected to be launched, Modi said.

The migration and mobility agreement seeks to facilitate movement between the two countries while addressing irregular migration and human trafficking. It provides for multiple-entry visas of up to five years, with stays of up to six months per visit, as well as renewable one-year student permits.

Under the young professionals exchange scheme, up to 300 people from each country can participate annually, with the number potentially rising to 500. The programme is aimed at young people taking up temporary employment to develop professional and language skills.

The Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia also figured in the discussions.

Modi said India and Switzerland supported meaningful efforts towards peace and backed reforms of global institutions to address emerging challenges.

The two sides also discussed artificial intelligence, with a focus on promoting innovative and equitable AI governance.

Parmelin said his visit marked the first anniversary of the implementation of TEPA and described the agreement as beneficial to both countries.

The Swiss president is accompanied by a large delegation of senior business leaders. The India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, is expected to focus on translating the trade and investment partnership into concrete outcomes.

Modi also congratulated Switzerland on hosting the next Geneva AI Summit, saying both countries would work towards making AI “responsible, inclusive, and human-centric”. (NVI)

China establishes road link with Afghanistan; CPEC May Be Impacted

By Ajay Kaul

New Delhi, Oct 5 (NVI) In a significant development that can substantially reduce the relevance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Afghanistan and China have opened a direct road link between the two countries, bypassing Pakistan.

The 121-km-long highway between Afghanistan and China stretches from the Boroghil border area of Afghanistan to the zero point on the Chinese border in Wakhan district of northeastern Badakhshan province.

The construction of the highway was launched two years ago by the Afghan Taliban government

Wakhan is one of Afghanistan’s remotest regions and borders China’s Xinjiang region and Tajikistan, as well as areas along the disputed Durand Line boundary with Pakistan.

It touches Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in the north and Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the east.

The highway provides a strategically crucial road link to China to West Asia, which has been a key objective of the CPEC and thus the huge importance of Pakistan.

But with Wakhan highway becoming operational, road corridors through Pakistan have lost relevance to a large extent.

Security Concerns

China has already been concerned over the completion of the road network under CPEC in Pakistan as these pass through the volatile regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The work on CPEC through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has been badly impacted due to repeated attacks on the construction workers by rebels there. Even Chinese engineers have been killed and injured in those attacks, causing lot of concerns to Beijing.

In fact, China has been angry at Pakistan for not ensuring appropriate security for its ambitious project and its engineers.

The threat level to the project and Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remains very high as the rebels in these regions have declared their intentions to sabotage it.

With the opening of the road link through a safer Afghanistan, China would possibly lay more thrust on this route to access West Asia for trade and commerce.

CPEC and USA

China launched the CPEC project in 2013 as part of its bigger and broader project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) entailing road, rail and maritime networks up to the African continent through West Asia.

The CPEC is expected to hugely reduce land route between China and West Asia from 12,000 kms to 2,395 kms.

That would be beneficial for China which has huge reliance on West Asia for energy.

To pursue the project, China has already invested around 65 billion dollars for the road construction in Pakistan under CPEC project.

Afghanistan out of the project till August 2021 as it was under the influence of the USA till then.

After the US forces left Afghanistan and its friendly government was ousted by the Taliban in August 2021, the new regime showed inclination to join the BRI.

Establishment of the Wakhan Corridor is a part of that endeavor.

Construction of the highway was launched after officials of Afghanistan and China agreed on the modalities in April 2024.

The Wakhan corridor, while benefitting China, is expected to play an important role in the Afghanistan’s commerce and regional transit, particularly since a hostile Pakistan has shut trade routes with the landlocked in an attempt to choke cripple its economy.

India-UAE joint military exercise ‘Mountain Guardian 2026’ begins in Uttarakhand

New Delhi, Oct 5 (NVI): The India-UAE joint military exercise ‘Mountain Guardian 2026’ commenced on Monday at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand, with troops from both countries focusing on enhancing interoperability and cooperation in mountain warfare, the Defence Ministry said.

The exercise, being conducted at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, from October 5 to 18, will provide an opportunity to the participating troops to exchange operational experience, tactics and best practices in mountainous terrain, it said.

A total of 92 personnel, with equal representation from the Indian and UAE armies, are participating in the exercise.

The Indian Army contingent comprises troops from a Bhairav Battalion, while the UAE side is represented by personnel from a Mountain Infantry Battalion.

Women officers and combatants from both armies are also taking part in the exercise in various specialist roles, the ministry said.

The joint training will include tactical drills, joint planning, firing practices, establishment of surveillance grids, drone operations and integrated field exercises.

The troops will also undergo physical endurance training, rock climbing and obstacle training as part of the exercise.

The exercise will further focus on technology-enabled operations and facilitate the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures for operations in challenging mountainous terrain.

“Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 will provide an opportunity for both armies to exchange professional experience, enhance tactical proficiency and exchange best practices in operational procedures,” the ministry said.

The exercise is aimed at further strengthening military-to-military cooperation between India and the UAE and reinforcing the bonds of friendship and trust between the two countries.—(NVI)

Develop AI, Robotics for Farmers, Not Just Conference Halls: J&K LG Sinha

Srinagar, Oct 5 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday urged agricultural engineers and innovators to develop technologies that can withstand real field conditions and remain affordable and accessible to small and marginal farmers.

Addressing the 60th Annual Convention of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE), co-hosted by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, Sinha said the success of agricultural technology should not be measured merely by patents or research publications but by its long-term impact on farmers.

“Create technology that can endure in real fields, under real monsoon conditions, and within the limited budgets of real farmers. Do not measure your success solely by patents or published research papers. Measure it by whether, five years later, a small farmer in Anantnag, Amritsar or Akola is genuinely better off because of your tools,” he said.

Congratulating the ISAE on completing six decades of service to the nation, the LG said Jammu and Kashmir, with its rich agricultural heritage and challenging terrain, was an appropriate venue for deliberations on smart farming, artificial intelligence and robotics.

Reflecting on the evolution of agricultural engineering since the society’s inception in 1960, Sinha recalled the contribution of scientists and engineers to the Green Revolution through mechanisation and innovations that helped reduce post-harvest losses.

He called upon the younger generation to draw inspiration from these achievements while addressing emerging challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and sustainable farming.

The LG also stressed the need to empower women innovators and ensure greater participation of women in agricultural technology.

Citing the significant contribution of rural women to farming and allied activities, he called upon institutions and private-sector stakeholders to support women-led start-ups and establish laboratories, fellowships and incubation platforms for young women engineers and scientists, particularly those from rural areas.

“Women-led start-ups in agricultural technology should receive financing with the same confidence with which any other start-up is provided the necessary support and facilities,” Sinha said.

He said engineering colleges and agricultural universities should actively nurture women innovators and help them progress towards positions of technological leadership.

On artificial intelligence and robotics, the LG said such technologies must be developed with affordability and accessibility at their core so that innovations do not remain confined to large landholding farmers.

He said nearly 86 per cent of India’s farming community comprises small and marginal farmers and called for developing tools that can operate on ordinary smartphones even in low-bandwidth rural areas.

Sinha also advocated collective ownership and leasing models through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to make advanced agricultural technologies accessible to farming communities.

Citing drones, Internet of Things-based sensors and machine-learning models as examples of technologies transforming agriculture, he urged innovators to focus on practical solutions rather than technologies designed merely to impress at conferences.

The LG said Jammu and Kashmir’s Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) could serve as a replicable model for other states and expressed confidence that agricultural scientists and engineers from across the country would draw lessons from the Union Territory’s experience in precision agriculture and sustainable resource management.

Sinha also felicitated recipients of ISAE awards during the event.

Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Production Ashish Chandra Verma, SKUAST-K Vice Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai, ISAE president S N Jha, Texas A&M University’s V P Singh, ISAE Secretary General P K Sahoo and other researchers, academicians, technocrats, innovators, industry representatives, faculty members and students attended the convention.—(NVI)

Two land mines recovered, safely destroyed in J&K’s Mendhar

File Photo

Shivam Bakshi

Poonch, Oct 05 (NVI) :Two land mines were recovered near the Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir Poonch district on Monday and were subsequently destroyed safely by a bomb disposal squad, officials said.

The mines were recovered near the fence, following which a bomb disposal squad reached the spot around noon and destroyed them on the spot as per standard safety procedures, they said.

No loss of life or injury was reported during the operation, officials said, adding that the situation in the area remained normal and under control.—(NVI)

J&K notifies Common Duct Policy 2026 to curb repeated road digging

Srinagar, Oct 5 (NVI) : The Jammu and Kashmir government has notified the Common Duct Policy 2026 aimed at curbing repeated excavation of roads for laying and repairing utility networks and promoting coordinated infrastructure development across the Union Territory.

Under the policy, shared utility corridors will facilitate the integration of multiple services, including electricity, water supply, telecommunications, gas and digital infrastructure, officials said.

The framework provides for incorporation of common duct systems while developing new roads and phased retrofitting of suitable existing infrastructure, they said.

A key feature of the policy is a single-window mechanism for Right of Way (RoW) clearances, which is intended to streamline permissions for utility agencies and reduce delays in road-cutting and related infrastructure works.

The policy also envisages cost-sharing mechanisms among participating utility agencies and digital mapping of underground assets to maintain updated records of utility networks.

It further proposes the use of the ‘Call Before You Dig’ platform to enable agencies and contractors to identify existing underground utilities before carrying out excavation, thereby reducing the risk of damage to essential services.

The measures are expected to minimise repeated road digging, protect newly developed public infrastructure and lower operation and maintenance costs associated with underground utility networks, officials said.

The policy also seeks to reduce visual clutter arising from uncoordinated utility installations and promote more planned urban development across Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while referring to the policy in a post on X, said the measures would help prevent repeated excavation of roads, protect public infrastructure and support planned urban growth and improved digital connectivity in the Union Territory.

The Common Duct Policy is expected to provide a coordinated framework for utility agencies and civic authorities and facilitate more organised and technology-enabled urban infrastructure development in J&K.—(NVI)

J&K weather: Light rain, snowfall likely at higher reaches from Oct 6-10

Srinagar, Oct 5 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience partly to generally cloudy weather with light rain and snowfall over higher reaches from October 6 to 10, the Meteorological Centre, Srinagar, said on Monday.

According to the latest forecast, weather is expected to remain generally dry on October 5. From October 6 to 10, light rain is likely at scattered to many places, while light snowfall may occur over higher reaches. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are also likely during the period, the weather office said.

The weather is expected to remain partly cloudy from October 11 to 15, it said.

The Meteorological Centre has advised farmers and growers to ensure safe storage of apples and paddy in view of the expected weather conditions between October 6 and 10.—(NVI)

US has become ‘lonelier power’ by choice: Jaishankar

New Delhi, Oct 4 (NVI) The US, by choice, has “deliberately become a lonelier power”, while China’s growing influence had contributed to an increasingly competitive global landscape, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said today.

The “radical repositioning” of the United States and the rise of China are among the defining features of the evolving global geopolitical order, he said at the Munich Leaders Meeting.

“No one in the room would disagree with the fact that the landscape today is primarily marked by a radical repositioning of the United States. A repositioning which is a posture of choice and, in a way, it has deliberately become a lonelier power,” he said.

He said the sharp competition was no longer confined to the US and China and had resulted in countries using whatever leverage they possessed as a strategic tool.

“That competition today, not limited to these two countries, has led to a weaponization of any leverage that any country has. And that competition coexists with the complexity of interdependence,” he said.

He cited the QUAD, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route as examples of such cooperation.

The BRICS grouping, he said, reflected the efforts of countries to amplify their collective voice rather than rely solely on their individual influence.

He also cited the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, both initiatives led by India, as examples of countries building institutions and mechanisms around shared interests.

Jaishankar also pointed to the accelerated emergence of a multipolar world, saying countries were increasingly compelled to maintain relationships with powers whose interests might not always be easy to reconcile.

“It’s a sort of strategy of advancing by hedging,” he said, adding that the trend had implications for multilateralism, which was already under pressure with the United Nations facing visible gridlock.

He said one consequence of the evolving global order was likely to be the growing importance of smaller groupings, as countries sought flexible arrangements to advance their interests. (NVI)

POJK observes ‘Black Day’; Pakistani forces kill one more Kashmiri

Mass of protesters in Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir

Muzaffarabad (POJK), Oct 4 (NVI) A ‘Black Day’ was observed in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) today to highlight betrayal by the Pakistani regime with regard to the promises made to the people of the region on this day last year.

Meanwhile, Pakistani forces continued their brutality, killing one more protester today in Dadiyal area by firing at him.

The Pakistani regime had made certain commitments under an agreement signed with Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a conglomerate of several non-political local organisations, which is spearheading a movement since last three years.

On October 4 last year, the Pakistan government had signed an agreement with JAAC to address a 32-point charter of demands. That agreement was reached after widespread protests for over a month.

The charter included reduction in electricity tariffs, provision of subsidies on wheat/flour, payment of hydropower royalties, abolition of elite privileges and a series of structural governance reforms.

However, most of the key commitments have not been fulfilled by Pakistan, triggering renewed public outrage and fresh mobilization.

In early May, JAAC leaders met in Mirpur in POJK and issued an ultimatum to the Pakistani regime to implement the agreement by the end of that month, failing which a fresh protest movement would be launched.

Subsequent multiple rounds of talks between JAAC, led by its Convenor Shaukat Nawaz Mir, and representatives of the Pakistan federal government and the PoJK administration failed to produce a breakthrough before the deadline expired.

As a result, JAAC announced on May 31 an indefinite strike beginning June 9.

That mass agitation is continuing round-the-clock.

Angered by the breach of agreement by Pakistan, JAAC today announced a complete lockdown across POJK from today.

During the lockdown, all government and private institutions, business centers, and markets will remain closed, the JAAC leaders announced at a rally in Rawalakot this evening.

It urged the general public is urged to fully comply with the lockdown.

At the rally, the JAAC leaders denounced the “state terrorism” unleashed by the Pakistani regime and vowed to be resilient.

Lakhs of people in attendance chanted slogans like “inquilab layenge” (we will bring revolution). (NVI)

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