Kashmir Live Updates: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh hosts Kashmiri students for Eid lunch

Jammu and Kashmir is celebrating its first Eid on Monday, August 12, amid tensions following the abrogation of Article 370. On Sunday, the J&K administration held a meeting with local clerics to oversee prayer arrangements and ensure peaceful celebrations of Eid-ul Azha. Restrictions were relaxed in the Kashmir Valley to facilitate Eid-ul Azha preparations amid the ongoing security clampdown. ATMs and a few market places were open in Srinagar and other towns as locals came out to shop for the festival. In Srinagar, Section 144 has been lifted and cell phone lines have been made functional.

Taking to Twitter, the J&K Police had tweeted saying that the situation in the state is peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the state. However, over 400 political leaders including former J&K chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been under arrest since the revocation of J&K's special status. Follow live updates on ibtimes.co.in for more developments about Jammu and Kashmir.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh hosted around 80 Kashmiri students for lunch to celebrate Eid-al-Adha. The students were from various universities of the state. They were not able to go back home due to the restrictions imposed in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370.

Taking to Twitter, Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Imtiyaz Hussain said that tens of thousands of people offered prayers on Eid.

India's nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan has refused to accept sweets offered by the Indian Army forces at the Rajasthan border on the occasion of Eid.

As part of his outreach to global leaders, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to apprise them about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Khan has already called prime ministers of the UK and Malaysia, as well as the Turkish president, Saudi crown prince and king of Bahrain to apprise them about the Kashmir situation. Khan highlighted the serious risk of massive killings and stressed that the international community must act urgently to prevent the impending calamity.

In Jammu, the restrictions have been eased as the region celebrates Eid-ul-Azha today. Devotees were seen offering early in the city on Monday.

On August 14, Pakistan will observe its Independence Day as Kashmir Solidarity Day, confirmed Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi stated that Pakistan will celebrate its Independence Day this year to express solidarity with the Kashmiris. Apart from snapping trade relations with India, Pakistan has downgraded its diplomatic ties. The country has also suspended the Samjhauta Express, the Thar Express and Lahore-Delhi 'Dosti' bus service between India and Pakistan.

Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal dances and celebrates with the locals of his constituency.

A security alert has been issued in Ladakh while Kargil limps back to normalcy.

People can be seen offering namaz on Monday morning at Mohalla mosques on Eid al-Adha. The Jammu and Kashmir police officials greeted people outside a neighbourhood mosque in J&K.

Over 250 ATMs and bank branches were opened in Srinagar for people to withdraw money ahead of Monday's Eid al-Adha celebrations. Six 'mandies' and markets have been established in Srinagar city while 2.5 lakh sheep have been made available for public for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha today. The authorities have also deployed mobile vans for door to door delivery of vegetables, LPG cylinders, poultry and eggs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also wished 'Eid Mubarak' to all the citizens of the country.

Ahead of the Eid-ul-Zuha on August 12, Centre relaxed restrictions that were imposed before the government's move to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcation of the state into two union territories. READ FULL STORY HERE