The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday informed that the Centre has asked security force not to launch operations in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the month of Ramazan. The decision has been taken to help the peace loving Muslims observe Ramazan in a peaceful environment, a statement from the Ministry said. The decision came after an all-party meeting.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has informed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of the decision.

Welcoming the cease fire Mufti thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh.

I wholeheartedly welcome the Ramadan ceasefire & would like to thank @narendramodi ji & @rajnathsingh ji for their personal intervention. My gratitude also to the leaders & parties who participated in the All Party Meeting & helped build consensus towards this announcement. 1/2

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2018

“The month of Ramadan is a harbinger of peace & such a decision will go a long way in creating a peaceful & amicable environment for a sustained dialogue,” she wrote on Twitter.

Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Centre had announced the unilateral ceasefire on the demand of all political parties except BJP. In a straight message to the militants he said if they did not respond in kind, they will be exposed as the true enemies of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

On the demand of all political parties (except the BJP, which had opposed it) the Centre has announced a unilateral ceasefire. Now if the militants don’t respond in kind they will stand exposed as the true enemies of the people.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2018

Welcoming the decision, former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said, “It is a great step forward, I would like to congratulate Home Minister Rajnath Singh & PM Modi. This reminds me of Atal ji's era when he announced a unilateral ceasefire. I welcome this.”

Local Kashmiri media reports state that terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba has already asserted that they will not honour the cease-fire.