![GAG CAPITAL](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/15506/398145/5e0df2813d5ff/GAG-CAPITAL.jpg)
By the year-end when the internet gag would cross 150 days, it will be the longest ever shutdown in a democracy. There will not be ‘Happy New Year’ messages jamming the cell phones while 2020 gets in.
Fearing a backlash, authorities on August 5, enforced blanket ban on communication. It is still in place on pre-paid mobiles, SMS and the internet. The first fixed-line phone came to life on August 17.
As the crises deepened, authorities had set up a handful of landline telephone booths for around seven million people living in Kashmir. “My son is studying in Delhi, I could not contact him for weeks together,” said Fayaz Ahmad, Srinagar resident. “To simply ask for his wellbeing, I had to travel almost 4kms and wait for almost five hours on a designated booth for my turn.”
Sirajuddin, 68, another parent, however, was not fortunate like Fayaz. He could not connect to his son for three months even after landlines were restored. His son works in the Middle East. The ISD calls remained barred for many weeks after the fixed-line set up was restored. “We used to talk to each other via WhatsApp but we no more have access to it,” he regretted.
After 72 days, Rohit Kansal, the spokesman of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, on October 14, announced the restoration of the post-paid cell phones. Even the SMS worked for a day it got barred again without assigning a reason.
Kashmir has almost 40 lakh, post-paid phone users. Almost 26 lakh using pre-paid SIM cards are still waiting for their phones to ring up. Iltija Mufti, who uses her mother Mehbooba Mufti’s Twitter handle termed the restoration of phone network as “halfhearted step” to stave off “international pressure”.
Bu hikaye Kashmir Life dergisinin January 04, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Kashmir Life dergisinin January 04, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
![Before The Kabul Retreat](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271cd8efb4c/crp_BEFORE-THE-KABUL-RETREAT.jpg)
Before The Kabul Retreat
Described as the ‘Graveyard of Empires’, Afghanistan was always termed to be at peace when it was at war. But the land-locked desert country that was always in turmoil and one of the worst targets of the Great Game suffered immensely throughout, especially in the last 40 years, Masood Hussain writes
![FINGERS CROSSED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271648a143f/crp_FINGERS-CROSSED.jpg)
FINGERS CROSSED
Almost everybody in academia and politics that Khalid Bashir Gura spoke to, the response over Kabul happens was simple – wait and watch
![Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271d4c8be6e/crp_Parliamentary-Committee-In-Srinagar.jpg)
Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar
The visiting 28-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have had detailed interactions with top civil administration and discussed developmental scenario and people’s welfare measures in Jammu and Kashmir. It is on a 4-day visit. Congress leader and MP Anand Sharma is heading the committee.
![MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/612717f3a1ea8/crp_MUSIC-IN-MUD-HOUSE.jpg)
MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE
Deep into north Kashmir, Faheem Mir meet a small community that sings and lives on folk music but is facing a tense situation in the last few years
![THE KABUL SPILLOVER?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271b342db20/crp_THE-KABUL-SPILLOVER.jpg)
THE KABUL SPILLOVER?
Security experts are divided over the possible impact of the Kabul situation on Kashmir. But the dramatic Taliban triumph has altered the region’s geopolitics, for the time being, writes Riyaz Wani
![Durga Bhawan At Katra](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271e0bb9d36/crp_Durga-Bhawan-At-Katra.jpg)
Durga Bhawan At Katra
To enhancing facilities for the convenience of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs 24.4 crore. The facility will accommodate 4000 pilgrims.
![Women Empowerment](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271d8a71c95/crp_Women-Empowerment.jpg)
Women Empowerment
In the first, 480 talented girls from Jammu and Kashmir were included in the degree and diploma courses of the Pragati Scholarship. Jammu and Kashmir has also got nine scholarships under the Saksham Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
![‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/730652/61271758ad3b6/crp_SOME-HISTORIANS-BELIEVE-THAT-AFGHANISTAN-CONFLICT-ISTHE-OUTCOME-OF-INDIA-AND-PAKISTAN-KASHMIR-STAND-OFF.jpg)
‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'
Foreign policy expert and editor of HardNews magazine, Sanjay Kapoor believes that Taliban 2.0 has more legitimacy unlike in the past as it had signed a deal with the US and negotiated with other countries of the region, but the final verdict can be passed only after it manages ticklish issues involving half of its population, the women
![Boredom Is Creative?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/725575/611ddbd805926/crp_BOREDOM-IS-CREATIVE.jpg)
Boredom Is Creative?
Getting bored is not as boring as it gets, writes Azra Hussain
![LG In Bangus](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15506/725575/611ddf318ac75/crp_LG-In-Bangus.jpg)
LG In Bangus
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela amidst grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence.