A delegation of foreign diplomats from at least 15 countries, including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea, visited India's Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of provincial polls on Wednesday (Sep&nbsp;25).

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The senior diplomats said they were happy to witness citizens exercising their democratic right to vote in the Indian federal territory and drew comparisons to their own countries' electoral systems.

Voting in the second phase is being held across 26 assembly constituencies, including Srinagar, and the voter turnout was 24.10 per cent as of 11:00 am (GMT 0530).

The Indian foreign ministry invited top diplomats from countries, including the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Guyana, Somalia, Panama, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and the Philippines.

Nearly 9 million people are registered to vote for the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to hold regional elections for the first time in a decade comes after India's Supreme Court upheld a decision by the government to scrap the region's special status.

Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed his views about foreign diplomats attending the voting. He slammed the Centre by saying, “We don’t need certificates from foreigners.” He was not in favour of this decision, and further said, "When foreign governments comment, the Government of India says this is an internal matter for India, now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections."

He further added, "If diplomats can be brought here, why are foreign journalists not being permitted to come here and cover elections...Diplomats are being brought here as guided tourists. This is not good.”&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir's special autonomy in 2019 and split the former state into two federal territories, aiming to tighten its grip on the Muslim-majority region.

The region has been marred by militant violence, having been at the centre of decades of animosity between India and Pakistan since independence from British colonial rule.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A delegation of foreign diplomats from at least 15 countries, including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea, visited India's Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of provincial polls on Wednesday (Sep 25).

A delegation of foreign diplomats from at least 15 countries, including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea, visited India's Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of provincial polls on Wednesday (Sep 25). The senior diplomats said they were happy to witness citizens exercising their democratic right to vote in the Indian federal territory and drew comparisons to their own countries' electoral systems. Voting in the second phase is being held across 26 assembly constituencies, including Srinagar, and the voter turnout was 24.10 per cent as of 11:00 am (GMT 0530). The Indian foreign ministry invited top diplomats from countries, including the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Guyana, Somalia, Panama, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and the Philippines. Nearly 9 million people are registered to vote for the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to hold regional elections for the first time in a decade comes after India's Supreme Court upheld a decision by the government to scrap the region's special status. Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed his views about foreign diplomats attending the voting. He slammed the Centre by saying, “We don’t need certificates from foreigners.” He was not in favour of this decision, and further said, "When foreign governments comment, the Government of India says this is an internal matter for India, now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections." He further added, "If diplomats can be brought here, why are foreign journalists not being permitted to come here and cover elections...Diplomats are being brought here as guided tourists. This is not good.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir's special autonomy in 2019 and split the former state into two federal territories, aiming to tighten its grip on the Muslim-majority region. The region has been marred by militant violence, having been at the centre of decades of animosity between India and Pakistan since independence from British colonial rule. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Foreign diplomats witness polling in India’s Jammu and Kashmir during second phase election

Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-supreme-court-orders-imran-khans-sister-to-pay-rs-2940-crores-as-fine-tax-on-foreign-properties-183850">Imran Khan</a> on Sunday condemned the killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama and threatened to raise the issue at the UN.

Seven civilians died on Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed.

In Srinagar, the army urged people not to march towards the headquarters of its Chinar Corps on the call of separatists to protest the killing of the civilians. Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP said the responsibility of such deaths lies with separatists and supporters of militants, including the mainstream political parties.

Khan took to Twitter to condemn the incident, saying only dialogue and not violence and killings will resolve this conflict. He threatened to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN and said the country will demand that the UN Security Council fulfil its plebiscite commitment in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Strongly condemn killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians in Pulwama IOK by Indian security forces. Only dialogue &amp; not violence &amp; killings will resolve this conflict. We will raise issue of India's human rights violations in IOK &amp; demand UNSC fulfil its J&amp;K plebiscite commitment
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1074291793775218689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the incident and said that Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally recognised dispute, pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the dissociation of India from reality was alarming.

The government and the people of Pakistan reaffirm their continued and resolute moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle, it said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday condemned the killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama and threatened to raise the issue at the UN. Seven civilians died on Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday condemned the killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama and threatened to raise the issue at the UN. Seven civilians died on Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed. In Srinagar, the army urged people not to march towards the headquarters of its Chinar Corps on the call of separatists to protest the killing of the civilians. Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP said the responsibility of such deaths lies with separatists and supporters of militants, including the mainstream political parties. Khan took to Twitter to condemn the incident, saying only dialogue and not violence and killings will resolve this conflict. He threatened to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN and said the country will demand that the UN Security Council fulfil its plebiscite commitment in Jammu and Kashmir. Strongly condemn killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians in Pulwama IOK by Indian security forces. Only dialogue & not violence & killings will resolve this conflict. We will raise issue of India's human rights violations in IOK & demand UNSC fulfil its J&K plebiscite commitment — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 16, 2018 × Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the incident and said that Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally recognised dispute, pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the dissociation of India from reality was alarming. The government and the people of Pakistan reaffirm their continued and resolute moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle, it said.

Pak PM Imran Khan condemns killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama, threatens to raise the issue at UN

Al Qaeda Kashmir <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-bank-staff-guards-foil-terrorists-robbery-attempt-in-jammu-and-kashmir-25842">unit chief Zakir Musa and his associates </a>looted a bank in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said on Monday.&nbsp;

Around Rs 1 lakh were looted by Musa and two of his associates at the Noorpora branch of J&amp;K Bank limited in Tral area - after firing shots in the air, reports said

The incident took place on Monday afternoon. Thorough search operations are on after the robbery, as per reports.&nbsp;

Earlier, Al Qaeda had announced that they have appointed Zakir Musa as the chief of its Kashmir unit, called Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, making him the most wanted commander in the Valley.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Around Rs. 1 lakh were looted by Musa and two of his associates at the Noorpora branch of J&K Bank limited in Tral area - after firing shots in the air, reports said

Al Qaeda Kashmir unit chief Zakir Musa and his associates looted a bank in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said on Monday. Around Rs 1 lakh were looted by Musa and two of his associates at the Noorpora branch of J&K Bank limited in Tral area - after firing shots in the air, reports said The incident took place on Monday afternoon. Thorough search operations are on after the robbery, as per reports. Earlier, Al Qaeda had announced that they have appointed Zakir Musa as the chief of its Kashmir unit, called Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, making him the most wanted commander in the Valley.

Al Qaeda Kashmir chief Zakir Musa loots J&K bank: Report

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