The Indian government has revoked the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir, in a move that risks increasing already-heightened tensions with neighbouring Pakistan.
Monday's presidential decree revokes Article 370 of India's constitution that guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority state, including its right to its own constitution and decision-making process for all matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.
In the lead-up to its move, India sent thousands of additional troops to the region, imposing a curfew on parts of it, shutting down telecommunications and arresting political leaders.
Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but rule it in part. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory.
The United Nations has urged the two countries to exercise restraint.
Here are all the latest updates:
Wednesday, August 7
US supports direct dialogue between Pakistan, India on Kashmir
The United States on Wednesday said it supports direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on the disputed Kashmir region and called for calm and restraint as the dispute escalated.
"We continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern," a US state department spokeswoman said in a statement.
Kashmiris anxious over food, cash shortages
Residents of Indian-administered Kashmir's main city, Srinagar, have expressed concern over food and currency shortages because of the continuing security lockdown.
Muneer Ahmad, who owns a shop at the Jahangir Chowk, said he was running out of essential goods.
"Whatever old stock we had we sold that and now we are running out of stock like milk, flour, and the way security has been placed on roads," he said. "This seems to be a long curfew where people will starve."
Most ATMs in the city were also not working, residents said.
India 'did not consult US' over Kashmir move
The United States has denied media reports that New Delhi had consulted Washington before revoking Kashmir's special status.
Alice Wells, acting assistant secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, said in a Twitter post: "Contrary to press reporting, the Indian government did not consult or inform the US government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status."
Contrary to press reporting, the Indian government did not consult or inform the US Government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status. - AGW
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UK expresses concern to India over Kashmir
Britain's foreign secretary Dominic Raab said he had expressed concern to his Indian counterpart about the situation in the disputed Kashmir region.
"I have spoken to the Indian foreign minister," Raab said. "We've expressed some of our concerns around the situation and called for calm, but also had a clear readout of the situation from the perspective of the Indian government."
Pakistan to expel Indian ambassador
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan's foreign minister, said Islamabad would expel India's ambassador Ajay Bisaria.
Moin-ul-Haq, Pakistan's newly-appointed ambassador to India, had yet to take up his post but will now not move to New Delhi, Qureshi added in televised comments.
Pakistan to downgrade ties with India over Kashmir move
Pakistan said it will "downgrade" diplomatic relations and suspend bilateral trade with India after New Delhi stripped its portion of the contested Kashmir region of special status.
The move follows a meeting of Pakistan's National Security Committee, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to an official statement posted on Twitter.
1-Downgrading of diplomatic relations with India.
2-Suspension of bilateral trade with India.
3-Review of bilateral arrangements.
4-Matter to be taken to UN, including the Security Council.
5-14th of August to be observed in solidarity with brave
Kashmiris. #StandwithKashmir
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Protesting India's "unilateral" and "illegal" actions in Kashmir, Islamabad said it would also raise the issue with the United Nations Security Council.
Khan also directed Pakistan's armed forces to "continue vigilance".
Protester dies, scores arrested in Kashmir lockdown
A protester died after being chased by police and more than 100 people were arrested during a curfew in Kashmir's main city after the restive region's autonomy was scrapped by India, officials told AFP news agency.
Despite a paralysing curfew imposed to head off unrest, sporadic protests have been reported by residents in the main city, Srinagar. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that in one incident a youth being chased by police "jumped into the Jhelum River and died".
A source told AFP that at least six people had been admitted to hospital in Srinagar with gunshot wounds and other injuries from protests.
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