Srinagar, Sep 29 (NVI): Some rusted rounds were recovered during drainage clearance work in the Latishot area of Bomai in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore, officials said on Tuesday.
The rounds were found during the clearance work being carried out by JCP, following which Bomai Police reached the spot and took them into custody for further necessary action.
Further details are awaited.—(NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 29 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday withdrew a bill seeking amendments to the law governing salaries and allowances of legislators after BJP members opposed the proposed hike in the Assembly.
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislature Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, L.A. Bill No. 14 of 2026, was listed for consideration and passage during the ongoing Assembly session.
Opposing the bill, BJP legislators urged the government to focus on the regularisation of daily-wage workers instead of increasing the salaries and allowances of MLAs.
Responding to the opposition, Abdullah said the government had the numbers to pass the legislation but he would not proceed with it if any member of the House objected.
“I had the majority, but I will not pass it. I will withdraw it,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah said the proposed changes were based on the recommendations of the concerned committee and noted that BJP members had also been part of the committee when the matter was discussed.
He said no objection had been raised at that stage but the issue was opposed when it came before the House.
“I was aware that they will politicise it, so I had made up my mind that if any member, even if it is one, opposes it, I will withdraw the Bill,” Abdullah said.
On the BJP’s demand for regularisation of daily wagers, the chief minister questioned why the issue had not been resolved during the previous administration’s tenure.
The exchange triggered a verbal discussion between the treasury and opposition benches, with BJP members reiterating their demand for action on the issue.
When the Speaker put the motion for withdrawal of the bill to the House, BJP members did not support it. The government subsequently withdrew L.A. Bill No. 14 of 2026.—(NVI)
By Ajay Kaul
For decades, devious Pakistan has persistently engaged in attempts to cause destabilization and destruction in its neighbouring countries, be it India or Afghanistan. And its nefarious designs have been exposed, once again.
In the latest instance, a deadly plan of Pakistan vis-à-vis Afghanistan has been foiled by the Afghan forces who intercepted a huge number of heavily-armed infiltrators, including militia personnel and ISIS terrorists, trained and sent by Pakistani agencies.
These mercenaries, who tried to enter Afghanistan via the border in its Nuristan province, numbered more than 300, according to reports.
Alert forces of the Afghan Taliban ambushed them, killing at least 33 and capturing dozens of others. Several others fled back to Pakistan.
The operation is still underway as many of the infiltrators are believe to be hiding in the mountains.
Afghan forces said they recovered huge quantities of arms, ammunition, Pakistani currency and other items from these infiltrators.
The Afghan Taliban regime said the intruders were Pakistan-trained mercenaries and terrorists. They included ISIS terrorists and Pakistani militias.
Videos surfaced on social media showing several men in the custody of Afghan forces and stating that they had been trained and sent by Pakistani intelligence agencies to cause destruction in Afghanistan.
The development comes after repeated airstrikes by Pakistan at multiple places in Afghanistan, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, including women and children.
One such air attack targeted a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, in which over 300 patients, doctors and other medical personnel were killed or injured.
Cross-Border Affiliations
Pakistan has been claiming that its cross-border attacks in Afghanistan are targeted against hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) even though the armed Islamist group is based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan itself and displaying it too.
The Taliban regime of Afghanistan has repeatedly insisted that the TTP has no existence in that country and the Pakistan government is trying to blame others for its domestic problems.
TTP too has maintained that it operates only from Pakistan and has no camps in Afghanistan.
Despite these denials, the regime in Pakistan claims that the TTP has training camps in Afghanistan and enjoying the patronage of the Taliban regime there.
The issue related to TTP has been the core reason for hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly since the Taliban captured power through a bloodless military campaign in August 2021.
These hostilities have grown proportionately with the TTP stepping up its attacks on Pakistani military and affiliated agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab provinces and in Balochistan over these years.
The TTP has a pronounced agenda of trouncing the Pakistan Army and imposing Sharia rule in Pashtun-dominated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and beyond.
The TTP describes Pakistan Army, particularly its top brass, as “anti-Islam” and American “stooges” who make all kinds of compromises for the sake of “dollars”.
In November 2023, the outfit announced focused and intensified operations against the Pakistani military and converted those pronouncements into action.
In March this year, it named its campaign against Pakistani military as ‘Operation Khyber’, which is continuing with deadly intensity.
The attacks continue to become more and more intense and lethal, as a result of which Pakistani military has been losing thousands of its personnel every year.
Lately, the TTP has been using the latest weapon systems like drones, sniper guns and laser guns to target the Pakistani military, which is clearly unable to handle the sustained onslaught.
The increasing casualties among the forces have also resulted in a substantial degree of demoralization among the military and police personnel. Several of them have quit the forces while many others extend support to the TTP which portrays itself as more Islamic than the personnel of the Pakistani military.
To mock the Pakistani establishment, the TTP fighters move openly and freely in markets and main roads of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The outfit makes videos of such activities and posts those on social media, giving an impression of the extent of control it has in the mountainous region.
The Pakistani military has been using all means, including aerial bombings, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to crush the TTP. But it has failed miserably in this endeavor and questions are being raised within Pakistan over the efficacy and capabilities of the Army.
To mask its failures and to divert attention from the widespread criticism, the Pakistani military has been resorting to airstrikes on some civilian and remote areas of Afghanistan to claim it is targeting TTP camps.
This is an easier option for the Pakistani military since the Taliban regime of Afghanistan does not have an efficient air defence system or any fighter planes to hit back.
The Pakistani military, particularly since February 22 this year, has carried out dozens of airstrikes inside Afghanistan, causing escalation in hostilities with the neighbour.
Only last week, Pakistan conducted air strikes in Afghanistan twice, one of which targeted Taliban’s spiritual base in Kandahar Province.
ISIS Camps in Pakistan
As the Pakistan Army realized that it was failing to influence or compel the Taliban regime of Afghanistan to rein in the TTP, it adopted its favourite route of employing militia personnel and terrorists to perform its dirty tasks.
As part of this plan, the Pakistani military has roped in ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) terrorist outfit. It has set up a large training and nurturing camp in the mountains of Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, close to the border with Afghanistan. The camp was set up in November last year.
Alongside, the Pakistani intelligence agencies have roped in military personnel of the former regime of Afghanistan as well as the anti-Taliban forces led by Ahmad Masood. He is the son of the legendary Afghan leader Ahmad Shah Masood who was assassinated by the Taliban in September 2001 in Kabul.
Ahmad Masood leads National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan, which seeks to oust the Taliban regime. The NRF is entrenched in the Panjsher valley in north Afghanistan, which the Taliban have failed to capture despite several attempts militarily.
It is men from these forces who tried to infiltrate into Afghanistan through the Nuristan border.
For now, the Afghan forces have scuttled the attempt but the notorious Pakistani military will surely repeat such things with the motive of destabilizing the Taliban regime.
Now it is to be seen how the Taliban regime deals with this menace.
Imphal, Sep 29 (NVI) Security forces apprehended 10 insurgent cadres and recovered 48 weapons, ammunition and war-like stores during intelligence-based joint operations in Manipur between September 20 and 27, officials said.
The operations were conducted by formations of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles under Spear Corps in coordination with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Manipur Police, they said.
The operations were carried out across Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Thoubal districts, the officials said.
The recoveries included weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores, they added.—(NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 29 (NVI) : BJP legislators on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in protest against the Speaker allowing discussion on the resolution seeking restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
The BJP members objected to references to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the 2024 resolution on restoration of special status included in the statehood resolution.
The walkout followed Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma raising the issue in the House and seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
The statehood resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was passed by the Assembly on Monday amid protests and objections from BJP legislators.—(NVI)
New Delhi, Sep 29 (NVI) : Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Pacific (USARPAC), met Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth here on Monday and discussed the evolving security landscape in the Indo-Pacific region, the Army said.
The two military leaders also explored opportunities to further strengthen bilateral defence engagement across multiple domains, it said.
The interaction focused on enhancing interoperability between the two armies through joint training and military exercises.
The Army said the successful outcome of Exercise Yudh Abhyas had demonstrated the seamless synergy in joint operations and reaffirmed the commitment of both armies towards strengthening military-to-military cooperation.—(NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 28 (NVI) The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday saw clashes between the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition BJP members as the House held a debate on a resolution seeking restoration of Statehood.
Significantly, the resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, called for restoration of Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir in tune with the Autonomy resolution of the year 2000.
“In addition to the resolutions passed by this House on 26, June 2000 and 6 November, 2024, the House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of India,” the resolution read.
On June 26, 2000, the Assembly, with National Conference in brute majority, passed a resolution which sought greater autonomy as it existed before August 9, 1953.
The government in J&K then was headed by Farooq Abdullah, father of Omar Abdullah.
On November 6, 2024, the House passed a resolution seeking the restoration of special status.
Omar Abdullah, while moving the Statehood resolution on Monday, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not seeking any favour but demanding restoration of their constitutional and democratic rights.
He said the demand for restoration of full statehood was rooted in the rights and constitutional status of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We are not begging. We have been humiliated,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah said restoration of statehood was necessary to bring back the institutional powers and constitutional position that Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed when it was a full-fledged state.
He said an elected government should have the powers, authority and responsibilities associated with a state government, and asserted that the issue had a direct bearing on the functioning of democratic institutions in the Union Territory.
The chief minister urged legislators to support the resolution seeking restoration of full statehood, describing it as an important issue concerning the political and administrative status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The debate witnessed sharp exchanges between treasury and opposition benches, with members raising objections over the wording, references and timing of the resolution.
BJP members also protested during the proceedings, leading to disruptions in the House as the discussion continued.
The resolution seeking restoration of full statehood has emerged as a key issue during the ongoing Assembly session, with members expressing divergent views on the administrative and constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The proceedings continued amid heated exchanges and protests as legislators debated the statehood demand and its implications for the functioning of the elected government.—(NVI)
Srinagar, Sep 28 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday extended the benefit of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to employees appointed against posts advertised or notified before December 24, 2009, but who subsequently joined service under the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier this month, officials said.
Under the government order, eligible employees have been given a one-time option to switch from the NPS to the OPS.
The employees will have to exercise the option through the proper channel within three months from the date of issuance of the government order, the officials said.
The option, once exercised, will be final, the government said.
Employees who fail to exercise the option within the stipulated period will continue to remain covered under the NPS.
The decision fulfils the Council of Ministers’ decision to extend OPS benefits to employees whose posts had been advertised or notified before December 24, 2009, providing eligible employees an opportunity to opt for the old pension system.—(NVI)
Shivam Bakshi
Kathua, Sep 28 (NVI): A Special Police Officer (SPO) was disengaged from service in Kathua district after a video allegedly showing him demanding and accepting Rs 100 from a truck driver during checking at Lakhanpur surfaced on social media, officials said.
Officials said the action was taken by Kathua SSP Mohita Sharma following the surfacing of the video.
The SPO, identified as Ameer-ud-Din, was allegedly seen demanding and accepting Rs 100 from a truck driver during checking at Lakhanpur on Sunday.
Following the incident, the SSP ordered his immediate disengagement from service and declared the post vacant. He was also directed to surrender his uniform, arms and ammunition, if issued, to the concerned police authorities.
Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against Assistant Sub-Inspector Gian Chand, Head Constable Dhruv Singh and Selection Grade Constable Shamsher Singh for alleged dereliction of duty and failure to report the alleged misconduct to their superior officers.
The proceedings have been entrusted to the Superintendent of Police (Operations), Border and Kandi, Kathua, who has been directed to conduct the inquiry under the applicable provisions of the J&K Police Manual.
The inquiry officer has been asked to submit the findings along with specific recommendations to the competent authorities at the earliest, officials said.—(NVI)
New Delhi, Sept 28: Mobile phone retailers across India will observe October 2 as “No UPI Day” to protest the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) said.
The new MDR framework is scheduled to take effect from October 15. It provides for a 0.4 per cent MDR on eligible UPI merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, while person-to-person transactions and specified small-value merchant payments remain outside the charge framework.
Retailers participating in the protest plan to temporarily stop accepting UPI payments and cover their UPI QR codes with black cloth on Gandhi Jayanti.
The association said the action is aimed at highlighting concerns over the additional cost that the new MDR framework could impose on merchants.
AIMRA has opposed the proposed 0.4 per cent MDR for eligible merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2,000. The association has told the government that the charge could increase costs for small mobile retailers that rely heavily on UPI for customer payments.
According to AIMRA’s representation to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a retailer processing Rs 5 lakh to Rs 30 lakh in monthly UPI transactions could face an estimated additional cost of Rs 2,000 to Rs 12,000 a month. The association has estimated the total impact on small mobile retailers at around Rs 40 crore a month, or nearly Rs 500 crore annually. These figures are estimates provided by AIMRA.
AIMRA Vice President and Delhi-NCR President Tarvinder Singh said the protest was not against UPI or digital payments, but against the additional financial burden on merchants. The association has called for merchant UPI payments to continue under a zero-MDR structure.
The MDR will be capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. The framework also provides separate rates for certain sectors, including a flat Rs 5 charge for eligible transactions above Rs 2,000 in specified essential and thin-margin categories.
Capital-market transactions involving mutual funds, securities, stockbrokers and dealers will attract an MDR of 0.02 per cent, also capped at Rs 300.
The Centre has said MDR is a charge within the payments ecosystem rather than a government levy and that consumers will not be required to bear the charge.
The framework is also facing a legal challenge before the Supreme Court. (NVI)
