Srinagar: Postpaid mobile services in Kashmir were restored after being blocked for 72 days hours before the government of India abrogated Jammu
and Kashmir of its special constitutional status. Internet and prepaid mobile services, however, continued to be suspended across the Valley.
The government had announced on Saturday that postpaid mobile phones will be resumed on all networks without internet facility. The communications
ban was part of the clampdown before New Delhi took an unprecedented decision on Article 370. Since then, there was no way for people 8 million in
the Valley to communicate with each other.
But as clock struck 12pm on Monday, mobile phones buzzed again connecting 40 lakh postpaid subscribers to their family and friends outside the
state. The resumption of services jammed networks resulting in poor connectivity. The resumption of the service is only on post-paid connections
and only for voice calls and SMS. Over 25 lakh prepaid mobile phones and internet will remain deactivated for now, officials said.
“This day is no less than Eid for us. In a global era of the world becoming one, transcending borders, we were cut off from the rest of the world
for more than two months,” said Nighat Shah.
Basharat Ahmad, a resident of the old city, lost no time in calling his friends and relatives within Kashmir and outside to just hear their voices
after the long gap. In just an hour, he made 30 calls.
“I had not spoken to my relatives in Delhi and elsewhere outside Kashmir for 70 days. I want to hear from all of them and want to tell them we are
still alive,” Ahmad said.
It was a tough 72 days even for those whose loved ones stayed close by.
Yasir Ahad said he was talking to his fiancee when the lines snapped abruptly.
“I was not able to contact my fiancee who lives just five kilometres from my place. We got engaged in July this year and two weeks later we had no
information about each other’s well being,” Ahad said.
Ahad, who plans to get married next spring, said he would talk to his fiancee every day till the sudden communication blockade came into force in
the early hours of August 5.
“I was talking to her when the signal went off. Initially, I thought there was something wrong with my phone but soon realised that the rumours
ahead of August 5 were not unfounded,” he added.
Government forces are fully geared to meet any challenge arising out of the opening of mobile communications, officials said.
The restoration of post-paid mobile phones of all services tops a number of steps taken in recent weeks to remove restrictions in the Valley.
Last week, the state was opened to tourists. Educational institutions are also open, but students have been staying away.
On August 17, partial fixed line telephony was resumed in the Valley. On September 4, nearly 50,000 landlines were declared operational.
In Jammu, communication was restored within days of the blockade and mobile internet was started around mid-August. However, after its misuse,
internet facility on cell phones was snapped on August 18.

Reader correspondent