Amir al-Muminin Festival Canceled in Kashmir
The 7th edition of the festival had been planned to be held on the occasion of birthday anniversary of Imam Ali (AS), the first Shia Imam later this week.
However, it was called off as the Indian government has refused to issue visas to foreigners wishing to visit Kashmir due to the recent tensions between India and Pakistan.
The festival is annually organized in Srinagar by the Astan (custodianship) of Hazrat Abbas (AS) holy shrine in cooperation with the Astans of the holy shrines of Imam Ali (A)S and Imam Hussein (AS).
Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad soared after a suicide bombing on Feb. 14 killed 40 Indian security personnel in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Jaish-e-Muhammad, a Pakistan-based terrorist group, asserted responsibility for the attack, and on Feb. 26, India launched a retaliatory airstrike. Pakistan responded the next day, and the two countries engaged in their first aerial dogfight in decades.
On Thursday, Indian and Pakistani officials held their first bilateral meeting since the outbreak of hostilities that raised fears the two nuclear-armed neighbors could stumble into war.
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