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Photo taken in Srinagar, August 11, 2019, after the decision of the Indian government to revoke the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

The curfew imposed on Indian-controlled Kashmir will be eased after Independence Day on Thursday (August 15th). The phone and the internet will remain cut for at least another week, according to the state governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

" We do not want to offer these communications tools to the enemy until things calm down, " Governor Satya Pal Malik said in an interview with The Times of India . " In a week or ten days, everything will be fine and we will gradually open lines of communication, " he added.

The Himalayan region, predominantly Muslim, also claimed by Pakistan, is since 4 August totally cut off from the world. A blackout of communications and heavy traffic restrictions were imposed by the Indian authorities before the announcement of the revocation of the constitutional autonomy of the part of Kashmir they control.

Gradually reduced restrictions

Fearing mass protests, tens of thousands more troops were deployed to monitor the implementation of the surprise decision by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Indian Ministry of the Interior said on Twitter that the restrictions were " being gradually eased " in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In particular, a motorway has been reopened .

The restrictions in #JammuKashmir are being eased in a phased manner in the Valley and the situation in the Jammu Division has been restored by local authorities. (1/4) @diprjk @JmuKmrPolice

Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) August 13, 2019

According to local residents, however, the blockade did not prevent a demonstration of some 8,000 people after last Friday's prayer, which was dispersed by security forces with tear gas and lead shots. The spokesman also confirmed for the first time that clashes took place after last Friday's Muslim prayer.

►To read also: "The end of the special status of Kashmir is the last act of a long process"

Authorities eased the restrictions temporarily on Sunday to allow residents to shop for the Eid Muslim holiday, which began on Monday. But severe restrictions were again imposed after demonstrations that have gathered hundreds of people, according to residents.

New request for meeting of the Security Council

At the same time Pakistan has once again called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood sent a letter to Joanna Wronecka, the representative of Poland, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

Pakistan has again reminded the UNSC of this inelienable right that is their duty to protect, in a letter delivered to their President calling for an emergency session in Kashmir. 2/2
#PakistanZindabad #PakistanStandsWithKashmir https://t.co/JaiN7EBjFS

Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) August 14, 2019

(with AFP)