SRINAGAR, 20 May 2020, TON: At least 15 residential houses belonging to the Kashmiri Muslims were gutted and valuables reduced to ashes, rendering several dozen families homeless in the holy month of Ramadan. As per the details, India Army, Paramilitary forces and the Police launched combined operations from all direction and pretended as if there is cross firing between the Kashmiris and the security forces which lasted for 13 hours. The Indian Army’s Major Kumar , who participated in the operation claimed that two local Kashmiri rebels were hiding in the residential house so the residential properties were set on fire through explosives to ensure elimination of anti-State Kashmiris. The officer added that this is the third incident in this month and if this continues, Kashmiri protesters would not dare to give refuge to any protester or come to the streets to lodge protests or pelt stone on Indian security forces.  

Meanwhile, the Kashmiri leadership including Syed Ali Geelani recorded their protest statements against the highhandedness of Indian occupying security forces and demanded Court of Inquiry against the incident. The families of fire victims told media that Indian forces burnt their homes using high intensity explosives and stole their belongings including jewelry and cash from some burning houses. Reportedly, the Brigade Headquarters has initiated an inquiry against the personnel of Army units who stole items of daily use from the gutted residences.

NEW DELH, 13 May 2020, TON: The Supreme Court ordered Internet services to remain suspended for the Kashmiris. The Court observed internet in the present circumstances is the need of the hour, but the constant attack on Indian security forces cannot be ignored.

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana refused to restore Internet services in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, however, it ordered setting up of a high-powered committee, headed by Union Home Secretary, to look into the issue.  

The Court was satisfied with no internet in many districts and slow spped in the other. The Court asked journalists, doctors and lawyers of Jammu and Kashmir to explore alternative mechanism to resolve problems arising out of slow internet speed in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Supreme Court bench ruled in its 19-page ruling, “The fact that outside forces are trying to infiltrate the borders and destabilize the integrity of the nation, as well as cause incidents resulting in the death of innocent citizens and security forces every day cannot be ignored”. It noted,  “National security concerns and human rights must be reasonably and defensibly adjusted with one another, in line with the constitutional principles. There is no doubt that the present situation calls for a delicate balancing, looking to the peculiar circumstances prevailing in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir the authorities in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir have selected the 2G speed to restrict the flow of information to prevent misuse of data by terrorists and their supporters to disturb the peace and tranquility”.

The Kashmiri leadership claims that the occupied State is without Internet Services since 5^th August 2019 and in some places where weak internet signals are there but the speed is so slow that it is difficult to operate at all.  They also complaint that Indian Army and security forces as well as the Indian nationals have been issued alternate devices that allow them to avail high speed Internet services.

SRINAGAR, 13 May 2020, TON: Vijay Kumar, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), in a statement to media said that a total of 64 terrorists, including three top terrorist commanders -- Qari Yasir of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Burhan Koka of the Ansar Gazwat ul Hind (AGH) and Riyaz Naikoo of the Hizbul Mujahideen. He added that 25 active militants and 125 over ground workers of the militants have been arrested this period. Highlighting the modus operandai, IGP Vijay Kumar revealed that 27 anti-terror operations were conducted by the security forces since January this year.

The Kashmiri leadership in Indian occupied disputed Jammu and Kashmir State rejected the figures give by IGP Vijay Kumar and said that India is shy in accepting 590 deaths and hundreds of arrests. They demanded the Human Right organizations and the UNO to make an assessment of the situation in the five districts of the Jammu and Kashmir where blood bath of Kashmiris is taking place.

Meanwhile, protests continued in almost all parts of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir over martyrdom of 590 Kashmiri youth in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir State by the Indian security forces. It is worth noting that the count has been recorded since 14 February in the five districts where Indian Army has started a reign of terror by conducted “Search and target operation”. killing so far 590 Kashmiri since 14 February 2020. The crime of all those killed have been reported by the Indian authority is that protests by Kashmiri youth provoked violent protests to create law and order situation.

India took as unconstitutional and illegitimate step of 5^th August 2019, which revoked Article 370 and Article 35 A and amalgamated the disputed State with India as its Union territory. The 5^th August step violated agreement between Maharaja of State and Government of India in 1947 that Jammu and Kashmir State would retain its autonomy.  This made the Kashmiri to come to the street in protest demanding their right of self determination and challenging India’s 5^th Augusts’ step.

Two years back Indian authorities filed over 15,200 FIRs against stone-pelters in disputed Jammu and Kashmir State but Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti under the pressure of International humanitarian organizations announced amnesty to some 4,961 stone pelters on the condition that they will have to give undertaking that they will desist stone-pelting. 

The India agencies and the Indian Army have acquired the details of the 15,200 FIRs and have started operations against the Kashmiris who got free after deal. As on 10 May 2020 some 590 Kashmiri have been martyred in fake encounters and operations. An Indian military officer disclosed that these operations will continue till August 2020, to eliminate all potential protesters who may create law and order situation, adding that a new strategy would be enforced in August this year.

SRINAGAR, 11 May 2020, TON: Protests erupted in almost all parts of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir were reported after it was revealed that 590 Kashmiri youth were killed since 14 February post in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir State by the Indian security forces. This was revealed by top Kashmiri leader on the condition of anonymity. He said, Indian Army has started a reign of terror killing so far 590 Kashmiri since 14 February 2020. The streets protests by the Kashmiris are being taken by the Indian authorities as means to provoke violent protests to create law and order situation.

India took as unconstitutional and illegitimate step of 5^th August 2019, which revoked Article 370 and Article 35 A and amalgamated the disputed State with India as its Union territory. The 5^th August step violated agreement between Maharaja of State and Government of India in 1947 that Jammu and Kashmir State would retain its autonomy.  This made the Kashmiri to come to the street in protest demanding their right of self determination and challenging India’s 5^th Augusts’ step.

Two years back Indian authorities filed over 15,200 FIRs against stone-pelters in disputed Jammu and Kashmir State but Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti under the pressure of International humanitarian organizations announced amnesty to some 4,961 stone pelters on the condition that they will have to give undertaking that they will desist stone-pelting. 

The India agencies and the Indian Army have acquired the details of the 15,200 FIRs and have started operations against the Kashmiris who got free after deal. As on 10 May 2020 some 590 Kashmiri have been martyred in fake encounters and operations. An Indian military officer disclosed that these operations will continue till August 2020, to eliminate all potential protesters who may create law and order situation, adding that a new strategy would be enforced in August this year.

SIKKIM, 10 May 2020, TON: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Sunday used Zoom technology to hold conference with the Corps Commands of Northern and Eastern Commands to make real assessment of preparedness against any odd eventualities. As per the sources at Guwahati, additional troops have been instructed to move at three locations in Arunachal Pradesh. The Army Chief stressed on guarding both Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC) to block unrest in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Reportedly, since last week unrest in Indian disputed Easter territories have erupted that made the security forces to renew strategy.  

Meanwhile, tension accelerated in the Nathu La sector of North Sikkim. Both sides suffered injuries as result engagement of Chinese and Indian troops. Five Indian troops were taken to the Base Hospital. Both sides have increased their deployments. Aggressive behavior & minor injuries have been reported on both sides. However, the matter was temporarily resolved after meeting company commander’s level dialogue. Border dispute over claim of territory exists and recently New Delhi has occupied some abandoned BoPs in the area. India is leveling allegations that the recent unrest in tree provinces at Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram is due to cross border movements, which Peking has denies. 

World is watching COVID-19 pandemic’s events with concern, precautions and apprehensions. Media is performing a major role in transforming apprehensions about COVID-19 pandemic into fear by displaying gloomy pictures without any hope and redress. It is compounded by statements of world leaders of unconfirmed and un-established mass deaths due to Coronavirus. In a nutshell, media has spread Coronavirus with much faster pace in hours than COVID-19 could have actually spread in decades

. Currently, the world has been divided into two groups; believers of divine faiths like Muslims, Christians and Jews and non-believers including non-practicing and enlightened moderates. Mosques, Churches, Synagogue and other places of worship have been banned and Armed Forces deputed to enforce restrictions on faithful from performing prayers.  In almost every country Security forces have deputed to disrupt and prevent normal day to day affairs while special apparatus has been established for monitoring of mosques and maintaining social distancing.

In the past decades, countries professing ideology of “Free World” remained unsuccessful implementing the concept of and “Global Village” amongst the world-nations. Despite cooperation and alliances of over fifty countries in real time operations and wars, there was limited or no success everywhere in the world including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey etc. Mosques, Churches, Synagogue, Seminaries, Madrassas and similar institution were seen as breeding grounds to challenge “Free World”. The Western war against Islam after dubbing its followers as “Fundamentalists” and “Terrorists”, could not bring desired results, resulting in recession in world economies. When wars failed, hybrid war or 5^th Generation warfare was adopted on asymmetric models but that too could not bring desired results due to limited access to modern technology and digital bottlenecks.

Today, there is no house in the world where Corona or COVID-19 is not being discussed. What is COVID-19 is quite simple that is self explanatory. COVID has been derived from two English words, coined together meaning receiving and sending video images to general masses. In English language; “Co” is used to form a verbs or nouns that refer to people sharing things or doing things together while “Vid” means relating to or employed in the transmission or reception of a televised image or operating of video frequencies. There are two other explanations that seem necessary to be mentioned here about suffixing of “19” with “COVID” and about video frequency. In COVID-19, “19” refers to last year (2019) when the drama in real life was launched while video frequency is future digital communication that would be based on a flexible Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5^th Generation (5G network), which are the cornerstone of next-generation network infrastructure. We will not get into the technical details and focus on certain very important revelations. In a nutshell it starts with digitalization and ends at enforcement of digitalization.

The story of COVID-19 starts from April 2003, when Jack Ma faced a difficult situation during 93rd Canton Fair but Guangzhou was classified as a SARS epidemic zone, the disease spread due to disease pig population in China. Despite assurances from Guangzhou government that everything was fine, most exhibitors were reluctant to take the risk by participating in the Fair. In 2002, the 92nd Canton Fair witnessed 135,000 exhibitors trading $19.7 billion in goods. But in 2003, it dropped to 22,000 exhibitors and only $3.8 billion in goods was traded. The economic giants like Jack Ma and Bill Gates have worked out new strategies to achieve objective through digital remote operations as e-education, e-trade and commerce, e-health and other Es. Massive alarms of “COVID-19” was publicized through media to ensure everyone adopt online digital practices.

Thus, the dream of “Global Village” gave birth to the concept of digital community, minimizing distancing due to geographical boundaries, ethno-religious or racial isolation and barriers due to varied educational systems. Thus in the decades to come digital transformation is to lead future. It is being worked out that just like social media platforms, mainly Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube etc. changed the way we socialize, interact, shop and perceive things, the new Digitalization would change the world. This will also bring new channels to digital marketing through digital technology and its applications. Social media is the term we use to describe platforms that bring people together for the exchange of information rather than physical interactions. Before 2019, the world could only reach social media for promoting both online or offline products and services but now it is claimed to be the whole world would operate on digital techniques.

It should not surprise anyone that despite claimed estimates by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that there 3623803 COVID-19 positives cases and 256880 deaths as on 6 May 2020, military operation are continuing everywhere in the world and are likely to gain momentum. Reportedly, despite the whole world has been apparently shaken by claimed spread of Coronavirus, NATO and other military organizations have diverted all attentions and energies from pandemic disease to military operations, especially in Africa and Middle East. Although, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s Secretary-General has dubbed these allegations about NATO’s organization’s role in Coronavirus pandemic as disinformation but it is being projected that some ground realities cannot be denied and ignored that NATO allies were absent in providing airlifts, medical support, and transportation to the patients.

We cannot ignore to investigate that there is also a general perception that Coronavirus is a biological weapon created to achieve some objectives. Although real, the Coronavirus has been exaggerated manifolds and its spread is intentional against the human rights and other international laws to implement the new strategies of the bankers and businessmen. The package for world governments to introduce smart and strategic technologies based applications and national plans to build future of education, health, economy, services etc. on digital lines, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics solutions with focus on operating from home. In the first step old systems, applications, softwares as well as hardwares will be no more compactable and new versions of 5G would be prerequisite to enter into the future. This is aimed to achieve objectives ranging from new businesses to control over the day to day affairs of the whole world (To be continued).

NEW DELHI, 4 May 2020, TON: The officials at Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made a telephone call on Monday, followed by a protest via e-mail to Pakistan’s High Commission at New Delhi, over Supreme Court of Pakistan judgment on general elections in Gilgit Baltistan, Indian media said. The Indian media also telecast that India asks Pakistan to Vacate all Areas in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

In Gilgit Baltistan previous elections were held under Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009 and the five-year term of the incumbent Gilgit Baltistan government would expire in June 2020, but the new order passed in 2018 was silent on the caretaker set-up.

The Government of Pakistan prayed through a civil miscellaneous application on 26 April for permission to carry out necessary amendments in the government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 for the caretaker government and conduct of elections for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, inter alia to adopt the Election Act 2017, the rules and regulations made thereunder.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday 29 April 2020, ruled that the federal government could amend the Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018 for establishing a caretaker set-up in the region to hold fresh elections.

TEHRAN, 4 May 2020, TON: A Spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, “Iran is still prepared for prisoner exchange with the United States and European countries”.  Seyed Abbas Mousavi Spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry said, "We had announced our readiness both officially and through messages and even proposed to exchange certain prisoners some of which took place."

Abbas Mousavi added that nearly 20 Iranians are in detention in the United States "on false charges of trying to circumvent sanctions" and said Iran is prepared to work for resolving the situation.

In October 2019 Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said Iran had made an offer of prisoner exchange with the United States through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran and submitted a list of Iranian prisoners in the United States for the exchange. However, there was no breakthrough in the talks.

In another development, confirming of some kind of deal with the US, Abbas Mousavi  said, “ Dr. Sirous Asgari, an Iranian scientist is in prison in the United States on the charges of stealing trade secrets,  has contracted the Coronavirus in prison.He will be tested again and  if his test is negative he will come back to Iran".

GENEVA, 2 May 2020, TON:   World Health Organization (WHO) top emergencies expert Dr. Mike Ryan  said,  countries must lift lockdowns gradually, while still being “on the look-out” for COVID-19 and ready to restore restrictions if the virus jumps back. He said, vulnerable people in institutions, including those in long-term care facilities, prisons and migrant dormitories, must be protected and even if the virus is coming under control, communities must know to still follow physical distancing and hygiene measures, and testing of suspect cases must continue.

The virus has spread in facilities for the elderly in Europe and North America, while in Singapore it has infected migrant workers in dormitories, he said, adding: “Because a spark in a situation like that turns into a fire very very quickly.”

Ryan acknowledged the difficulty for governments to maintain lockdowns during the pandemic, “for social, psychological and economic reasons” and apologized for severe measures, “So we are very anxious that we can move to a situation where the disease can kept under control with less severe measures.”

He claimed that there are worrying trends of spread in countries from Haiti to Somalia and Yemen, Ryan said. He also cited Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sierre Leone, Central African Republic, and a “serious cluster” in Kano, northern Nigeria. He clarified, regarding the new coronavirus that first emerged late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, he reiterated that scientists examining its genetic sequences have assured the WHO that “this virus is natural in origin”.

KABUL, 30 April 2020, TON: Fighters from across the borders assembled in Afghanistan to launch major operation. Many among them claims to be associated with Taliban but Taliban have totally denied any links with these people. The Afghan officials also confirmed on Wednesday that hundreds of foreign combatants are fighting alongside Taliban militants in a strategic northern province, a move that if proven true would violate the terms of the US-Taliban peace agreement.

Zakaria Sawda, the governor of the northeastern province of Badakhshan, said around 400 foreign militants, mostly from neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, had joined the Taliban and were fighting Afghan security forces in the province. However, Taliban have denied any links with these Hazara, Tajiks and Uzbeks in Badakhshan province.