Landline phones back in occupied Kashmir but calls still not going through
The government in occupied Kashmir said landline telephone service had been restored a month into a near-total communications blackout and security lockdown was imposed as India's Hindu nationalist-led government stripped Kashmiris of the constitutional rights they had for seven decades through a rushed presidential order on August 5.
On Thursday, people lined up at offices or homes that have landline telephones to try to contact family and friends after the long wait, but many were unable to get through after repeated attempts.
"Our landlines have been restored but we are still unable to talk to people. It is frustrating. I have been trying to call people since morning, but I am not getting through," said Syed Musahid in Srinagar.
Many Kashmiris living outside the region also said they were having trouble getting in touch with their families inside occupied Kashmir.
"I kept trying a hundred times to reach my family in Kashmir, and only then did my call go through," said Bint-e-Ali, a Kashmiri in Bengaluru.
She said she still hasn't been able to talk to her ailing grandmother in Srinagar.
"I hope I live to tell this horrendous tale to our next generation about how India didn't even let us talk to our family and friends," she said.
The government said it suspended communications on August 5 to prevent rumours from spreading after Article 370 was revoked. The suspension has almost completely isolated Kashmir's residents.
Srinagar resident Firdous Ahmad said the restoration of landline service "definitely brings a sigh of relief" but he also he hoped cellphone and internet data services, which are more widely used, would be restored soon.
The Press Trust of India reported restrictions had been lifted on daytime movements in the disputed region. However, checkpoints remain in place.
Protests over India's moves have occurred sporadically in occupied Kashmir and were quelled by security forces who fired pellets and tear gas.
Comments (29) Closed
If kashmiri people cannot be reached then how the press can contact them
Just for show, as foreign journalists are clamoring to visit, but truth will be exposed. IOK nation is a prison.
The telephone lines are swamped with everyone calling at the same time.
I have called to my relative in Srinagar through Landline and mobile from Delhi. No problem.
This is a technical difficulty, there are only so many phone lines available and if everyone tries to call at the same time, happens with mobile phones also when there high volume. ..
Great escape for IK. For the past one month only Kashmir news. Forget Pakistsn’s Problems.
Look at Modi, he is focusing on what next for Developments for India.
Great. Things getting back to normal.
@Gul hasan,
Excuses don't work. Kashmir is still a prison. The whole wold knows!
Good ... Happy for kashmiri
Then how you got this news if landline isn’t working?
Heavy traffic is creating havoc.... .just have patience....
"Our landlines have been restored but we are still unable to talk to people. It is frustrating. I have been trying to call people since morning, but I am not getting through" -> How he said and to whome if the communication lines are not working. How did his words reach till the article in newspaper in another country if his words can't even reach the person he is trying to communicate. Propaganda of pakistan is reaching next level.
Nothing to see here! No cause to worry...
Do not use for wrong purposes, otherwise lines will be snapped within a flash. Use for right cause, availability of lines will be eternal.
@bhaRAT©, wonder what is your definition of the whole world?
@Rashid, good question
Land lines are working fine and all business are returned to normalcy..... From srinagar
Happy to see Kashmiris are back to normal life. Best wishes from Pakistan.
It is very sad day for the people of Kashmir and wide world.
working phone lines is a good step forward. Slowly and with careful review of security situation, the curfew should be relaxed. No one likes to live under constant watch of security forces. So Kashmir should be given same freedom as Lucknow or Hyderabad.
@Deepak Rajkumar, Oh I see, the telephone lines are swamped with calls, that’s why? Good excuse.
It's ok, life without phones was much better.
Life going back to normality
So telephones are not back.
Our landlines stays down for weeks.
@Raja, for them Pakistan is the whole world
If every one starts calling there will be saturation in traffic in the lines...It is like traffic jam, nothing moves
Good. Cell services will also be restored soon and will run as long as no rumour mongering.
all is wel. stone pelting days over. no life lost.in coming days huge investment , tourism industries and subordinates business in full force. now computer and pen in hand not guns and stones.