News from India and Pakistan - 07 August, 2019

Heavy Clashes Erupt 

Between Indian, Pakistani 

Forces In Kashmir

Zero Hedge,

7 August, 2019

Reuters reports intense clashes broke out Wednesday along the Line of Control in contested Kashmir between Indian and Pakistani troops. 

Citing local media, Reuters described that "troops on the border had exchanged heavy fire and that Pakistani troops have fired mortars in the clashes." 

The exchange of fire took place according to local media at the Sunderbani Sector along the Line of Control (LOC) after 10pm local time, with each side blaming the other for breaching a ceasefire. 

Kashmir fighting illustrative file image.

Though few details were given, especially with a near total communications blackout on the Indian-administered side in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), military observers have been expecting intensifying shelling and clashes between the nuclear armed rivals after earlier this week the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata leadership in New Delhi revoked Article 370 of the constitution which protected Muslim-majority J&K's special autonomous status.

Unverified social media reports from regional observers say the death toll is mounting amid a broad Indian crackdown on its side of the LOC.

Zaid Hamid

✔@ZaidZamanHamid

I have received confirmed reports of over 250 casualties of civilians clashing with Indian security forces in Kashmir. Just one hospital in Srinagar has recieved 50 bodies so far....
I have also seen around 14 dead bodies of Indian troops killed in the violent clashes.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan placed his armed forces on alert and on Wednesday recalled its ambassador while expelling its Indian envoy, and crucially took the drastic step of suspending bilateral trade with India.

PM Khan further directed the military to "continue vigilance" after previously saying Pakistan would take "all possible options" in support of Kashmir's Muslim-majority population - this after regional media reported "tens of thousands" of Indian troops have surged into Kashmir, while a phone and internet blackout is in place.

A day prior to the fresh clashes, which are likely to escalate without external mediation, Khan had suggested a "genocide" could be unfolding as Indian reinforcements continued pouring into the restive border region.

Sana Saeed

✔@SanaSaeed

This is Srinagar, Kashmir - some of the first images we’ve seen since the lockdown. At least one protestor has been killed and over 100 people have been arrested by Indian military forces.

Twitter Ads info and privacy

India and Pakistan have fought two wars specifically over Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands amid a nearly three decade armed revolt.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201908071076492802-pakistans-pm-khan-calls-national-security-committee-session-to-discuss-kashmir-tensions---reports/?fbclid=IwAR2ear6WpCV2JJe5m62Ti5N86f8KmjD8uo19LlqkS1yOvBMhMUCE7oR1VZ0

Pakistan Suspends Bilateral Trade With India, Expels Envoy

ZeroHedge,

7 August, 2019

The Kashmir crisis triggered by India's revoking of Article 370 from its constitution has exploded into a fast escalating renewed crisis between nuclear armed arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

Merely within the last 24-hours Pakistan has recalled its ambassador while expelling its Indian envoy, and more importantly has taken the drastic step of suspending bilateral trade with India. 

“We will call back our ambassador from Delhi and send back their envoy,” foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced in televised comments, according to the AFP, while a separate government statement declared trade suspended and a downgrading of diplomatic ties. 

File image of Pakistani National Security Council meeting

The committee has decided on "downgrading of diplomatic relations with India" and "suspenstion of bilateral trade with India," according to the statement. 

PM Khan further directed the military to "continue vigilance" after previously saying Pakistan would take "all possible options" in support of Kashmir's Muslim-majority population - this after regional media has reported "tens of thousands" of Indian troops have surged into Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), while a phone and internet blackout is in place. 

In a worrisome sign that the two historic rivals and neighbors could be again moving to open war, Khan is reported to have said, "We have to choose between dishonor and war."

Pakistan's foreign minister informed the United Nations early this week it is prepared to act in response to the "critical situation"- which Khan reiterated to the high level defense committee meeting Wednesday.

Pakistan Prime Minister: Is 

the world prepared for a 

NUCLEAR WAR?

Hal Turner,

7 August, 2019

Imram Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, spoke to his country's parliament this morning about India taking over Kashmir. He stated "We do not fear death. But is the world ready for a nuclear war? A war which no one will win?"

The fact that the head of state of a nuclear armed nation has made such a statement in public, makes clear the thinking inside his government: Nuclear War is now possible between Pakistan and India! Here is the actual video of his remarks:

If either side - or both sides - detonates a nuke, prevailing weather patterns would carry the radioactive fallout to the west coast of the United States and Canada within 7 days. The entirety of the north american continent would be covered within 72 hours after that.