The Indian army and paramilitary soldiers stand guard on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. EPA
The Indian army and paramilitary soldiers stand guard on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. EPA
The Indian army and paramilitary soldiers stand guard on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. EPA
The Indian army and paramilitary soldiers stand guard on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. EPA

Pakistan says India is preparing another attack in Kashmir


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India is planning another military operation in Kashmir this month, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Sunday as its neighbour prepares for a general election this week.

The warning comes as tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours appears to have cooled following a rapid escalation in February.

Mr Qureshi said Pakistan had raised its concerns with the UN Security Council.

"We have reliable intelligence that India is planning a new attack on Pakistan. As per our information this could take place between April 16 and 20," he said.

Mr Qureshi did not elaborate on the nature of the attack or the intelligence but said Prime Minister Imran Khan had agreed to share the information.

The two states came to a dramatic confrontation earlier this year after India retaliated to a car bomb that killed 44 paramilitary troops on February 14.

On February 26, India said they struck a training camp of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group who claimed responsibility for the car bomb, breaching the Kashmiri Line of Control (LOC) with an aerial assault.

The following day, Pakistan also flew over the LOC with their jets, a move matched by India the same day. Two Indian jets were shot down, one pilot was captured but later released.

Pakistan's Ministry of External Affairs said there were two more ceasefire violations on April 1 and 2.

Both sides sought to control the political narrative surrounding the attacks.

Some in India said between 200 and 300 people were killed in the strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed. Satellite imagery and reports from the ground have contested these claims. A Pakistan foreign ministry report on evidence provided by India raised further doubts about the veracity of the intelligence.

India also said they shot down a Pakistan F-16 fighter jet which crossed the LOC during the February 27 escalation. Mr Khan contested this on Saturday, citing US defence officials saying Pakistan was not missing any of the US-made planes from their fleet and accused India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of using the conflict to win elections.

Indians will vote in the first of seven rounds of parliamentary elections on Thursday, which will continue until May 19.

Last week, Facebook removed about 100 pages they said were controlled by the public relations arm of Pakistan's army for "co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour". Many of these pages were aimed at campaigning against Indian control of the disputed region. One page was called "Kashmir for Kashmiris".

Facebook also removed pages from both of India's main parties.

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How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
  • Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved 
  • Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
  • At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
  • Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars 
  • Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
  • An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital 
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L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1

if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

Liverpool's all-time goalscorers

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Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
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What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

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