A bomb exploded, injuring three people, and two others were defused yesterday on the route of the first India-Pakistan bus across Kashmir ahead of its inauguration this week, as separatist rebels threatened prospective passengers to stay away.
India mounted extraordinary security and detained hundreds of people ahead of the inauguration tomorrow of the passenger bus between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
Three civilians were injured in the explosion at Hanjivira village about 35km north of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, an officer at the police control room said on condition of anonymity. The explosive was placed along the highway connecting Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.
The blast occurred soon after a bomb squad defused two powerful bombs placed in plastic bags along the same highway in nearby Palhalan. The bombs weighed 70kg and 60kg respectively, the officer said.
A number of Kashmiri rebel groups have issued death threats against anyone planning to travel on the buses, which they see as a publicity gimmick that will do nothing to bring their goal of independence for Kashmir. The threat was renewed yesterday.
"If you want to let the Indians succeed through your stubbornness, then let it be known that you must suffer with your own ashes and blood," said a statement faxed to reporters.
The statement was signed by four rebel groups: Al-Nasireen (The Helpers), the Save Kashmir Movement, Al-Arifeen (The Pious) and Farzandan-e-Millat (Sons of the Community). The first two are major militant groups, while the others are little-known.There was no way to independently verify the authenticity of the fax.
The trans-Kashmir road, once the region's main highway, has been closed for nearly six decades because of the enmity between India and Pakistan. Security in Indian-controlled Kashmir, already very tight, has been stepped up dramatically, with hundreds of soldiers and police deployed along the length of the 110km route the bus will take to the Line of Control.
EUROPEAN FUTURE? Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says only he could secure EU membership, but challenges remain in dealing with corruption and a brain drain Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama seeks to win an unprecedented fourth term, pledging to finally take the country into the EU and turn it into a hot tourist destination with some help from the Trump family. The artist-turned-politician has been pitching Albania as a trendy coastal destination, which has helped to drive up tourism arrivals to a record 11 million last year. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also joined in the rush, pledging to invest US$1.4 billion to turn a largely deserted island into a luxurious getaway. Rama is expected to win another term after yesterday’s vote. The vote would
FRAUD ALLEGED: The leader of an opposition alliance made allegations of electoral irregularities and called for a protest in Tirana as European leaders are to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party scored a large victory in parliamentary elections, securing him his fourth term, official results showed late on Tuesday. The Socialist Party won 52.1 percent of the vote on Sunday compared with 34.2 percent for an alliance of opposition parties led by his main rival Sali Berisha, according to results released by the Albanian Central Election Commission. Diaspora votes have yet to be counted, but according to initial results, Rama was also leading there. According to projections, the Socialist Party could have more lawmakers than in 2021 elections. At the time, it won 74 seats in the
CANCER: Jose Mujica earned the moniker ‘world’s poorest president’ for giving away much of his salary and living a simple life on his farm, with his wife and dog Tributes poured in on Tuesday from across Latin America following the death of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics. He was 89. Mujica, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment. “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi wrote on X. “Pepe, eternal,” a cyclist shouted out minutes later,
Myanmar’s junta chief met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) for the first time since seizing power, state media reported yesterday, the highest-level meeting with a key ally for the internationally sanctioned military leader. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup in 2021, overthrowing Myanmar’s brief experiment with democracy and plunging the nation into civil war. In the four years since, his armed forces have battled dozens of ethnic armed groups and rebel militias — some with close links to China — opposed to its rule. The conflict has seen Min Aung Hlaing draw condemnation from rights groups and pursued by the
RSS