National News

New Delhi, May 16 (AFP/APP):Indian military operations against the people in the disputed Kashmir territory were suspended Wednesday in a rare gesture for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The 30-day halt is the first of its kind in Indian-controlled Kashmir for nearly two decades, and follows an escalation of violence in recent months in the Muslim-majority Himalayan region.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the suspension was to allow a peaceful celebration of the fasting month.
The decision means Indian troops will stop the pursuit of militants and door-to-door house searches — but they will still retaliate if attacked, officials said.
In a statement, Singh sought the cooperation of “everyone” in the initiative but did not make a direct call for militants to suspend hostilities.
There was no immediate response from the groups that have been fighting Indian rule in the territory for nearly three decades.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who runs the Kashmir government in an alliance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, expressed hope that the decision “will create a peaceful and amicable environment for sustained dialogue”.