SRINAGAR: The government of India has restored postpaid mobile services in the Valley. Postpaid mobile phone services have been restored after over 70 days on the state-run BSNL network in the Kashmir Valley.

Mobile internet and broadband still continue to be blacked out in the Valley since the August decision that saw a magnanimous shift in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Over 20 lakh prepaid mobile phones, and mobile and other internet services will remain deactivated for now.
, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik has said phone lines were not very important for Kashmiris. He also said the phone lines were only used by terrorists.

According to ANI, speaking at a public event on Monday, Malik said, “Telephone was not important us, but lives of residents are more important.”

“People were living without telephone earlier also, you must understand, the telephone being used for terrorist mobilization,” Malik added.

On August 5, Home Minister Amit Shah had announced the government’s major decision to scrap Article 370 to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and also bifurcate the strife-torn state into two Union Territories.

Ever since, the government has imposed an unprecedented lockdown on the Valley, including the blackout of all communication lines.

On Saturday the J&K administration announced that some 40 lakh postpaid mobile phones will become operational from Monday noon.

J&K Principal Secretary had said earlier, “More specifically, all postpaid mobile phones, irrespective of the telecom service provider, will stand restored and be functional from 12 noon on Monday, 14 October 2019.”

Lack of mobile phone connectivity has posed to be a big hurdle in the daily lives of Kashmiris for over 2 months. The announcement of the restoration of postpaid lines is the most significant step towards ending the communication blockade.

(Agencies)