Weekly wrap: Top headlines from Kashmir and beyond

Srinagar, May 19: Here is a dose of top headlines and key moments from the past week.

No expiry date in Indo-Pak understanding on cessation of hostilities: Army

On May 15, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the country’s Senate that the DGMOs of Pakistan and India talked over the hotline on May 14 to discuss the “ceasefire”.

However, the Indian military chose not to comment on Dar’s claim. Dar said the two DGMOs in their conversation on May 10 had firmed up the “ceasefire” till May 12. Following Dar’s comments, the Indian Army said it will pursue confidence-building measures to reduce the “alertness level” in line with the May 10 understanding.

Over 42 unexploded shells from recent cross-border artillery firing destroyed in J&K’s Poonch

Security forces on Sunday destroyed 42 unexploded shells in different forward villages near the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in a major operation to clear civilian areas following a military confrontation between India and Pakistan, officials said.

Indian Army, in close coordination with local police authorities, successfully conducted a controlled operation for the safe destruction of 42 unexploded ordnances in the border areas of Jhullas, Salotri, Dharati and Salani, a defence spokesperson said.

BJP holds ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Srinagar to celebrate Operation Sindoor triumph

BJP workers held a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Srinagar on Thursday to honour the Indian Armed Forces for the successful completion of Operation Sindoor. The rally, called the ‘Tiranga Rally’, began at Sher-i-Kashmir Park and concluded at Lal Chowk. It was led by BJP leader and Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, Darakhshan Andrabi.

Govt approves deployment of ex-servicemen for protection of critical infrastructure in J&K

As per the approved plan, 4,000 Ex-Servicemen volunteers have been identified for this initiative. Among them, 435 individuals possess licensed personal weapons, significantly enhancing the capacity to respond effectively to localised security situations. These ESM will be employed for the protection of critical infrastructure in all 20 districts of J&K, including power stations, bridges, government installations, and other vulnerable points

As outlined in the proposal; the ESM volunteers will serve under the overall coordination of the respective District Sainik Welfare Officers (DSWOs). They will function in close coordination with the district administration and local police. Their role is non-combatant, focusing on static guard duties, presence-based deterrence, and local coordination.

Steps will be taken to restore confidence in Kashmir tourism sector: Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting with key tourism stakeholders to listen to their concerns and discuss way forward for the tourism sector in Kashmir in the aftermath of recent adverse situation affecting tourism in the region.

The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Inspector General of Police Kashmir VK Birdi, Commissioner Secretary Tourism Yasha Mudgal and Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yaqoob.

Srinagar records season’s hottest day at 32.2°C;

Other areas in the Kashmir Valley also recorded high temperatures, Qazigund at 33.0°C, Kokernag at 31.4°C, Kupwara at 29.9°C, Pahalgam at 27.2°C, and Gulmarg at 23.6°C.

In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a scorching 40.0°C, while Katra registered 37.4°C, Bhaderwah 31.6°C, Batote 30.9°C, and Banihal 30.8°C. In Ladakh, Leh recorded a relatively cooler temperature of 20.4°C

Operation Sindoor exposed Pak’s lies on terrorism: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that indigenously developed BrahMos missiles destroyed Pakistani air bases while its air defence system, borrowed from China, remained unused, during Operation Sindoor, which exposed its lies on terrorism to the world.

“Our Air Force carried out precise attacks and inflicted heavy damage on many places in Pakistan which were considered impregnable. Operation Sindoor will be written in golden letters when the history is written on the border safety,” he said.

Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed.

Pope Leo XIV inaugurated with calls for unity, justice, peace in Ukraine

Approximately 100,000 people were present for the liturgy, which lasted two hours and centered on themes of humility, service, and social justice. In his homily, the new pope emphasized the need for cohesion within the Catholic Church and rejected internal divisions and politicization of faith. He delivered strong criticism of economic systems that degrade the planet and marginalize the poor, reinforcing a continuity with the priorities of his predecessor.

High-profile figures in attendance included U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who were observed in conversation before the service began. The pope, who spent much of his clerical life in Peru, was also joined by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. Delegations from over 150 countries were represented at the Vatican, underscoring the global attention on this new phase of Catholic leadership.

Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine since war began: CNN

The air raid in Kyiv reportedly lasted almost nine hours. Ukrainian officials described the attack as part of Russia’s continuing military pressure despite ongoing peace negotiations. Elsewhere in the country, Russian shelling in the Donetsk region killed one person and injured eight others. Drone strikes were also reported in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the media reported.  Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had shot down 75 Ukrainian drones in the last 24 hours, according to Russian state media.

64 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip: Civil defence

Since Israel resumed its intensified military campaign on March 18, at least 3,131 Palestinians have been killed and 8,632 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the war began in October 2023 to 53,272, with a total of 120,673 people injured, according to health authorities in Gaza on Saturday.

Gaza’s Government Media Office has said that more than 200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks over the past 48 hours, with 1,000 housing units destroyed.