India to halt operations in IHK for Ramazan

SRINAGAR: India will suspend operations against militants fighting its rule in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) during the holy Muslim month of Ramazan, the government said on Wednesday. The move follows weeks of sporadic violence in the Muslim majority territory at the heart of decades of hostility between India and Pakistan, both of which claim the region. More than 130 people have been killed this year in militant violence, prompting calls by the Jammu and Kashmir state government for a ceasefire during the fasting month that begins this week. Federal Home Minister Rajnath Singh has ordered security forces to halt cordon and search operations across held Kashmir, the government said. “Decision taken to help the peace loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment," the home ministry said in a Twitter post. There was no immediate response from Kashmir´s main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference that has long sort a cessation of all operations and calls for dialogue between India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people to decide their future.