NEW DELHI: The United States had denied that a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council (UNSC) was linked with the situation in Kashmir.

"I don’t see a link between the two," US Government spokesman P J Crowley said.

The statement by the Obama Administration follows similar comments by a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry that there was no link between the two.

Reports here last week quoted US President Barack Obama as saying that a permanent seat on the UNSC to India was linked with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Sources here, while quoting Mr Crowley as telling reporters in Washington, said the United States wanted to see India and Pakistan work collectively together to resolve tensions regarding Kashmir.

Mr Crowley said India and a number of countries and the US were also interested in UN reform, including reforms within the Security Council.

"Those are conversations which are ongoing with a wide range of countries," he added.

Asked if the Security Council seat would be a big agenda item for Mr Obama when he goes to India in November, Mr Crowley said it was an issue that comes up in the Indo-US dialogue.

He, however, said he could not predict whether the issue would come up during President Obama’s India visit.

"It is an...It is an issue that comes up in our ongoing dialogue with India. I can’t predict whether it will come up in November," he said.

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Normalcy returns in Mendhar as day curfew lifted

JAMMU : Normalcy returned to the bordering Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district after day curfew was lifted in the area, official sources here today said.

“The administration today lifted a day curfew in tehsil Mendhar, which was imposed two weeks ago when three people were killed and 30 injured in police firing on a mob who attempted to set ablaze a missionary school,” official sources here said.

The mob was protesting against the alleged desecration of a Holy Quran in United States.

“The day curfew has been lifted but night curfew would remain in force,” sources said adding that Section 144 CrPC would continue as a preventive measure during the day.

Life returns to normal in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Life in Kashmir Valley today returned to normal as authorities lifted curfew and hardline Hurriyat Conference exempted the day from its schedule of protests and strikes.

Curfew was lifted from the entire Valley, except Kangan town in Ganderbal district, last night as the law and order situation across the region remained by and large peaceful yesterday, official sources said.

The sources said restrictions were not eased in Kangan town as a gunbattle was raging between militants and security forces at Chak-Akhal, 45 kms from here.

A police spokesman last night said there will be no curfew in Srinagar city today. He, however, advised people not to take out any processions without prior sanction from authorities.

Shops, business establishments and private offices opened early in the morning while public transport was plying on all routes of the Valley.

Schools and Government offices, however, remained closed on account of Gandhi Jayanti.

Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said since the Government imposed curfew on people Friday, which had been exempted by him in his protest schedule, he has decided to withdraw today’s strike so that people of the Valley get some relief.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley today rose to 105 as a youth, injured during clashes with security forces in Sopore last month, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here this morning.

20-year-old Omar Suleiman Shiekh, who was injured on September 16, died at SKIMS Hospital at Soura.

Kashmir Valley has been in a grip of violent protests since June 11 when a 17-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a tear smoke shell during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in interior city.