The budget of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K), announced last month, is twice the size of Pakistan's bailout request to the International Monetary Fund, according to documents.

The budget of J&amp;K stood at Rs 1,18,500 crore ($14.5 billion), while Pakistan sought $7 billion from the IMF.

The irony is not lost on many, given Pakistan's long-standing desire to claim the region since the partition of India in 1947.

On March 13, while making the budget announcement, Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted several key infrastructure projects, including the 8.45 km Qazigund-Banihal tunnel at a cost of Rs 31.17 billion ($38 million), which will reduce&nbsp;the travel time between Srinagar and Jammu from 10 hours to five.

"Kashmir is likely to be connected to the rest of the country through the rail network by the end of the year 2023," Sitharaman said.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s budget pales in comparison. The Islamabad government in its budget announced in June last year earmarked only $2.6 billion for development programs, also called the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), for the entire country.

Moreover, the PSDP has seen a 19 per cent year-on-year cut, affecting the country's development priorities.

In June last year, Pakistan's then-finance minister Miftah Ismail tabled a federal budget of $33.4 billion for the financial year 2022-2023. It was presented in the backdrop of a deep economic crisis.

Of that, $575.9 million (Pakistani Rs 164 billion) was allocated to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's&nbsp;(PoK) budget for the financial year 2022-23.

Notably, the PoK's budget has been witnessing a consistent drop, causing unease among the local population.

According to Pakistan's monthly economic report for March 2023, the country is currently facing a shortage in liquidity.&nbsp;The report states that the Pakistani government is "firmly inclined to successfully complete the IMF's EFF program, which includes necessary policy measures and will bring additional relief to the financial account of the balance of payments."

The stark contrast between the budgets of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan highlights the vast difference&nbsp;in the&nbsp;economic growth and development between the two regions.

While Jammu and Kashmir is investing in infrastructure and development projects, Pakistan is struggling to meet its basic financial obligations. The situation in PoK is also concerning, with the federal government reducing its budget and exacerbating the region's economic woes. 
&nbsp;

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The budget of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), announced last month, is twice the size of Pakistan's bailout request to the International Monetary Fund, according to documents.

The budget of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), announced last month, is twice the size of Pakistan's bailout request to the International Monetary Fund, according to documents. The budget of J&K stood at Rs 1,18,500 crore ($14.5 billion), while Pakistan sought $7 billion from the IMF. The irony is not lost on many, given Pakistan's long-standing desire to claim the region since the partition of India in 1947. On March 13, while making the budget announcement, Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted several key infrastructure projects, including the 8.45 km Qazigund-Banihal tunnel at a cost of Rs 31.17 billion ($38 million), which will reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Jammu from 10 hours to five. "Kashmir is likely to be connected to the rest of the country through the rail network by the end of the year 2023," Sitharaman said. On the other hand, Pakistan’s budget pales in comparison. The Islamabad government in its budget announced in June last year earmarked only $2.6 billion for development programs, also called the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), for the entire country. Moreover, the PSDP has seen a 19 per cent year-on-year cut, affecting the country's development priorities. In June last year, Pakistan's then-finance minister Miftah Ismail tabled a federal budget of $33.4 billion for the financial year 2022-2023. It was presented in the backdrop of a deep economic crisis. Of that, $575.9 million (Pakistani Rs 164 billion) was allocated to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) budget for the financial year 2022-23. Notably, the PoK's budget has been witnessing a consistent drop, causing unease among the local population. According to Pakistan's monthly economic report for March 2023, the country is currently facing a shortage in liquidity. The report states that the Pakistani government is "firmly inclined to successfully complete the IMF's EFF program, which includes necessary policy measures and will bring additional relief to the financial account of the balance of payments." The stark contrast between the budgets of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan highlights the vast difference in the economic growth and development between the two regions. While Jammu and Kashmir is investing in infrastructure and development projects, Pakistan is struggling to meet its basic financial obligations. The situation in PoK is also concerning, with the federal government reducing its budget and exacerbating the region's economic woes. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Jammu and Kashmir’s budget twice the size of Pakistan’s IMF bailout request, documents show

India is likely to raise with the Trump administration the use of US-made anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) by Pakistan Army to target Indian troops along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, defence ministry sources indicated today.

The Pakistan Army had used the ATMGs during heavy shelling on an Indian Army team along the LoC in Rajouri district of J-K last Sunday in which four army men including a captain were killed, the sources said.

Army sources had said that the Pakistan Army used 120mm mortars and the ATGMs in the Rajouri attack, adding usually Pakistan uses 80mm mortars to target Indian posts along the LoC. 
The security establishment here is understood to have been concerned over use of US-made ATGMs by Pakistan considering the expanding Indo-US strategic ties.

&quot;We are going to raise the issue with them (the US)&quot;, said a source.

The defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing. In June 2016, the US had designated India a &quot;Major Defence Partner&quot; intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. 
The Army last week had clearly indicated that it would take retaliatory action against the killing of four army men.

The sources said that Pakistan has been escalating the hostilities along the LoC and in hinterland in J-K to vitiate the atmosphere ahead of panchayat polls in the state.

India is likely to raise with the Trump administration the use of US-made anti-tank guided missiles by the Pakistan Army to target Indian troops along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, defence ministry sources indicated

India is likely to raise with the Trump administration the use of US-made anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) by Pakistan Army to target Indian troops along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, defence ministry sources indicated today. The Pakistan Army had used the ATMGs during heavy shelling on an Indian Army team along the LoC in Rajouri district of J-K last Sunday in which four army men including a captain were killed, the sources said. Army sources had said that the Pakistan Army used 120mm mortars and the ATGMs in the Rajouri attack, adding usually Pakistan uses 80mm mortars to target Indian posts along the LoC. The security establishment here is understood to have been concerned over use of US-made ATGMs by Pakistan considering the expanding Indo-US strategic ties. "We are going to raise the issue with them (the US)", said a source. The defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing. In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner" intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. The Army last week had clearly indicated that it would take retaliatory action against the killing of four army men. The sources said that Pakistan has been escalating the hostilities along the LoC and in hinterland in J-K to vitiate the atmosphere ahead of panchayat polls in the state.

India to raise use of anti-tank guided missiles by Pakistan with US

Amidst the ongoing unrest in India&#39;s Kashmir, a senior Indian minister said today that the Narendra Modi administration would find a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. 
 
Addressing a public reception in Northeast Indian state of Sikkim, India&#39;s internal affairs minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in Kashmir.&nbsp;

But Singh said the attacks wouldn&#39;t derail the government&#39;s efforts to find a &quot;permanent solution to the Kashmir issue&quot;.

has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region.

The senior minister&#39;s statement comes at a time the Valley has been witnessing widespread unrest since April 9 when the bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held. 
 
Eight people were killed in firing by security forces on the day. The turnout was a mere 7.14 per cent. 
 
The April 12 bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat had to be postponed by the Election Commission in view of the &quot;scary&quot; situation in Kashmir. 
 
Students in large numbers have hit the streets, staging protests against alleged atrocities by the security forces. 
 
Last year, around 80 people lost their lives in the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani. 
 
&quot;Kashmir is ours, Kashmiris are ours and Kashmiriyat is also ours. We will find a permanent solution to Kashmir,&quot; Singh said. 
 
Referring to the 2014 swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government, the home minister said leaders of all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, were invited to show that the new government wanted to have friendly relations with all countries. 
 
However, he said, there had been no change in Pakistan&#39;s attitude towards India and it wanted to destabilise India. 
 
&quot;We hope that Pakistan will change. If it does not change, we have to change them. After globalisation, one country can&#39;t destabilise another country as the international community will not forget it,&quot; he said. 
 
The home minister is on a three-day visit to Sikkim during which he attended a conference of Himalayan states to review the security situation and development activities along the Sino-Indian border. 
 
He had also visited the Nathu La border post, besides visiting a few posts of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and SSB along the Sino-Indian and Indo-Nepal border respectively.

(PTI)

India;s internal affairs minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for trying to create unrest in India's Kashmir

Amidst the ongoing unrest in India's Kashmir, a senior Indian minister said today that the Narendra Modi administration would find a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. Addressing a public reception in Northeast Indian state of Sikkim, India's internal affairs minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in Kashmir. But Singh said the attacks wouldn't derail the government's efforts to find a "permanent solution to the Kashmir issue". has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region. The senior minister's statement comes at a time the Valley has been witnessing widespread unrest since April 9 when the bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held. Eight people were killed in firing by security forces on the day. The turnout was a mere 7.14 per cent. The April 12 bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat had to be postponed by the Election Commission in view of the "scary" situation in Kashmir. Students in large numbers have hit the streets, staging protests against alleged atrocities by the security forces. Last year, around 80 people lost their lives in the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani. "Kashmir is ours, Kashmiris are ours and Kashmiriyat is also ours. We will find a permanent solution to Kashmir," Singh said. Referring to the 2014 swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government, the home minister said leaders of all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, were invited to show that the new government wanted to have friendly relations with all countries. However, he said, there had been no change in Pakistan's attitude towards India and it wanted to destabilise India. "We hope that Pakistan will change. If it does not change, we have to change them. After globalisation, one country can't destabilise another country as the international community will not forget it," he said. The home minister is on a three-day visit to Sikkim during which he attended a conference of Himalayan states to review the security situation and development activities along the Sino-Indian border. He had also visited the Nathu La border post, besides visiting a few posts of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and SSB along the Sino-Indian and Indo-Nepal border respectively. (PTI)

Indian PM Modi will find 'permanent solution to Kashmir issue'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can resolve the Kashmir problem as he has a strong mandate and appealed to him to pull the valley out of morass. 
 
Mufti, whose government is battling spiralling protests in the valley, said the situation is the result of pent up anger due to failure of the UPA government to continue with the policy started by the previous NDA government in Jammu and Kashmir during her father Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed&#39;s rule.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I say today with authority and I will be criticised for it also. If anyone can find a solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
 
&quot;He (PM) has a strong mandate. Whatever decision he takes, the country will support him,&quot; said Mufti, whose party is running a government in coalition with the BJP. 
 
&quot;If anyone can take us out of the sticky spot, it is Prime Minister Modi. The nation will support whatever he decides...it is may earnest appeal...,&quot; she said. 
 
The CM was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a flyover here. 
 
Hailing the Prime Minister&#39;s decision to visit Lahore on December 25, 2015, she said that it was a sign of strength not weakness. 
 
&quot;He has the mandate of the people. This is his biggest power. He went to Lahore and met the PM of that country. This is not a sign of weakness but an indication of strength and power,&quot; she said. 
 
She took a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he did not have the courage to visit Pakistan. 
 
&quot;Before him (Modi), a Prime Minister had also desired to go to Pakistan for over ten years. He wanted to see his home there,&quot; she said, with naming Singh. 
 
&quot;He also would have tried to end the confrontation between the two countries, and bring J&amp;K out of this unfortunate situation, but he had no courage to do that.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
She gave credit to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former chief minister Mufti Sayeed for starting the &quot;chapter of peace&quot; in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002. 
 
&quot;They tried their best to bring out Kashmir out of this unfortunate situation. He was successful to a large extent in shortest of period,&quot; Mehbooba said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;There was ceasefire (along Indo-Pak border) during Vajpayee&#39;s rule. There were talks with L K Advani (in Kashmir). There was beginning of the process of opening (cross -LoC) roads.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The chief minister said militancy declined during that period and there was peace on the borders. 
 
&quot;These were not small developments. But unfortunately Mufti was out of the government and Vajpayee ji left, and the process came to grinding halt,&quot; the PDP leader lamented. 
 
She alleged that the UPA regime at the centre and the state government did not carry forward the process thinking &quot;everything is peaceful and there is no need to do anything further&quot;. 
 
&quot;There was pent-up lava. It started to come out when the youths were out on the streets in 2008 and then 2009 and 2010. 
 
This lava has now spread to the streets and we are forced to face this situation,&quot; she said.&nbsp; 
 
The CM said while her government is trying to improve the situation in Kashmir, there are some forces which do not want it. 
 
&quot;Mufti sahib, who had seen a dream, shook hands with the Prime Minister of our country Narendra Modi, who has got the mandate of the people,&quot; she said. 
 
As the chief minister was speaking, former Minister and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak interrupted her speech and demanded setting up of two civil secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar capital cities. 
 
Charak, who later walked out of the hall in protest, was heckled by some workers after conclusion of the function.

(PTI)

The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir urged the Indian premier to use his mandate to stop the rot in the riven state

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can resolve the Kashmir problem as he has a strong mandate and appealed to him to pull the valley out of morass. Mufti, whose government is battling spiralling protests in the valley, said the situation is the result of pent up anger due to failure of the UPA government to continue with the policy started by the previous NDA government in Jammu and Kashmir during her father Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed's rule. "I say today with authority and I will be criticised for it also. If anyone can find a solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "He (PM) has a strong mandate. Whatever decision he takes, the country will support him," said Mufti, whose party is running a government in coalition with the BJP. "If anyone can take us out of the sticky spot, it is Prime Minister Modi. The nation will support whatever he decides...it is may earnest appeal...," she said. The CM was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a flyover here. Hailing the Prime Minister's decision to visit Lahore on December 25, 2015, she said that it was a sign of strength not weakness. "He has the mandate of the people. This is his biggest power. He went to Lahore and met the PM of that country. This is not a sign of weakness but an indication of strength and power," she said. She took a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he did not have the courage to visit Pakistan. "Before him (Modi), a Prime Minister had also desired to go to Pakistan for over ten years. He wanted to see his home there," she said, with naming Singh. "He also would have tried to end the confrontation between the two countries, and bring J&K out of this unfortunate situation, but he had no courage to do that." She gave credit to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former chief minister Mufti Sayeed for starting the "chapter of peace" in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002. "They tried their best to bring out Kashmir out of this unfortunate situation. He was successful to a large extent in shortest of period," Mehbooba said. "There was ceasefire (along Indo-Pak border) during Vajpayee's rule. There were talks with L K Advani (in Kashmir). There was beginning of the process of opening (cross -LoC) roads." The chief minister said militancy declined during that period and there was peace on the borders. "These were not small developments. But unfortunately Mufti was out of the government and Vajpayee ji left, and the process came to grinding halt," the PDP leader lamented. She alleged that the UPA regime at the centre and the state government did not carry forward the process thinking "everything is peaceful and there is no need to do anything further". "There was pent-up lava. It started to come out when the youths were out on the streets in 2008 and then 2009 and 2010. This lava has now spread to the streets and we are forced to face this situation," she said. The CM said while her government is trying to improve the situation in Kashmir, there are some forces which do not want it. "Mufti sahib, who had seen a dream, shook hands with the Prime Minister of our country Narendra Modi, who has got the mandate of the people," she said. As the chief minister was speaking, former Minister and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak interrupted her speech and demanded setting up of two civil secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar capital cities. Charak, who later walked out of the hall in protest, was heckled by some workers after conclusion of the function. (PTI)

Only PM Modi can resolve Kashmir issue: Mehbooba Mufti

India reiterated its stance that Kashmir was a bilateral issue with Pakistan, hours after the United States wished to &quot;de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward&quot;.

India&#39;s ministry of external affairs said they were willing to talk about Kashmir if terrorism sponsored from across the border abated.

&ldquo;We of course expect the international community and organisations to enforce international mechanisms, and mandates concerning terrorism emanating from Pakistan, that continues to be the single biggest threat to peace in our region,&rdquo; the statement released by the ministry stated.

New Delhi was responding to&nbsp;US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley&rsquo;s comment about the Kashmir issue.

In a departure from previous US administrations&#39; decision to stay away from the conflict in south Asia, Haley said: &quot;It&rsquo;s absolutely right that this administration is concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and very much wants to see how we de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward.&rdquo;

The senior member of the Donald Trump administration also expressed its intention of being a &quot;part of that (defusing tension in the region)&quot;.

&ldquo;We very much think that we should be proactive in the way that we are seeing tensions rise and conflicts start to bubble up and so we want to see if we can be a part of that,&rdquo; Haley said.

Haley also spoke about China&#39;s persistent vetos to label Jaish-e-Mohammad head Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

&ldquo;The administration very much is looking at all of these avenues and some of the things we have talked about is sanctions and who is on the list and how we have managed that,&rdquo; she said.

New Delhi has blamed&nbsp;Azhar for orchestrating deadly coordinated attacks in 2008, which left 164 people dead and further 308 injured.

Kashmir&nbsp;has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety.

Rebel groups have for decades fought roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan.

The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

India reiterated that it was a bilateral issue and that Pakistan needed to control terrorists on their side for Kashmir talks to begin

India reiterated its stance that Kashmir was a bilateral issue with Pakistan, hours after the United States wished to "de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward". India's ministry of external affairs said they were willing to talk about Kashmir if terrorism sponsored from across the border abated. “We of course expect the international community and organisations to enforce international mechanisms, and mandates concerning terrorism emanating from Pakistan, that continues to be the single biggest threat to peace in our region,” the statement released by the ministry stated. New Delhi was responding to US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s comment about the Kashmir issue. In a departure from previous US administrations' decision to stay away from the conflict in south Asia, Haley said: "It’s absolutely right that this administration is concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and very much wants to see how we de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward.” The senior member of the Donald Trump administration also expressed its intention of being a "part of that (defusing tension in the region)". “We very much think that we should be proactive in the way that we are seeing tensions rise and conflicts start to bubble up and so we want to see if we can be a part of that,” Haley said. Haley also spoke about China's persistent vetos to label Jaish-e-Mohammad head Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. “The administration very much is looking at all of these avenues and some of the things we have talked about is sanctions and who is on the list and how we have managed that,” she said. New Delhi has blamed Azhar for orchestrating deadly coordinated attacks in 2008, which left 164 people dead and further 308 injured. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety. Rebel groups have for decades fought roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead. (WION with inputs from AFP)

India snubs US' attempt to mediate Kashmir issue