New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address thenation at 8 pm on Thursday. This comes two days after Parliament passed aresolution revoking certain provisions of Article 370 which granted specialstatus to Jammu and Kashmir, and passing a bill that bifurcates the state intotwo union territories. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi will be addressing thenation at 8 PM today," the Prime Minister's Office said in a post onTwitter.

The address, a first after the Centre’s decision on Jammu& Kashmir, assumes significance because it is expected that Modi will makean attempt to not just explain the impact of the decision to the country butalso to start a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the reorganisation bill, the state of Jammu andKashmir has been divided into two union territories - Ladakh without alegislature, and Jammu and Kashmir with one

The US is closely monitoring developments in India after thelatter passed legislation on new territorial status and governance in Jammu andKashmir, a State Department official said. The comments come in the wake ofPakistan expelling Indian envoy and downgrading diplomatic ties. This remarkfrom the US seems a departure from its earlier stance wherein it had said theWhite House had taken note of India’s move.The change in tone could be due toPakistan putting pressure on the US to come out with a stronger statement asWashington turns to Pakistan to help reach a pact with the Taliban, analystssaid.