The administration in Kashmir has decided to restore all post-paid mobile connections from Monday, weeks after the central government abruptly announced the ban coinciding with the abrogation of Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August.
“Having reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a decision has now been taken to restore mobile phone facilities in the remaining areas of Jammu and Kashmir. More specifically, all post-paid mobile phones irrespective of the telecom service providers will stand restored and be functional from 12 noon on Monday, 14 October,” Jammu and Kashmir Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal told reporters in Srinagar.
However, internet services will continue to remain suspended.
The Indian government had banned mobile phones and internet in the valley ahead of its announcement on the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August. Since then, nearly 8 million population of Kashmir has been forced to live with any access mobile phones or the internet.
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The Indian government also arrested hundreds of prominent Kashmiri leaders, who have been kept at unknown locations. The government’s move invited widespread criticism from the international fraternity with lawmakers in the US and the UK expressing deep concerns over the move.
However, the government has started to relax its restrictions in recent days. A delegation of the National Conference was recently allowed to meet former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah.
The government had restored some landline phones in some parts of Kashmir, but the residents had no access to mobile phones for more than two months.
The government had revoked its travel advisory on foreign tourists last week, allowing them to visit the valley from 10 October onwards.
More details awaited