Kashmir Reader

MOSCOW: Russias Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned the US-Israeli strikes on Iran as a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state, demanding an immediate halt to the military campaign and a return to diplomacy. In a statement posted to Telegram, the ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team for their historic Ranji Trophy triumph, calling it the regions finest hour. In a post on X, the LG, lauded the players for their grit and determination. J&Ks finest hour has arrived. Emotions beyond words as our cricket team claims the []

TEL AVIV:) Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with the countrys defence minister declaring a state of emergency across the country. Israel Katz made the announcement as thick smoke rose from an explosion in downtown Tehran, Irans capital. Iranian state television acknowledged the blast, without providing more details.

Jammu: At least one person was killed and two others were injured after a truck met with an accident in the Kalai area of Poonch district on Saturday morning. Officials said that a loaded truck was coming from Jammu to Poonch when it lost its balance near the Kalai area and rolled down, resulting []

TEL AVIV: US President Donald Trump said Friday hes not happy with the latest talks over Irans nuclear programme but indicated he would give negotiators more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East. He spoke a day after US envoys held another inconclusive round of indirect talks with Iran []

STOCKHOLM: A Russian drone carried out an unauthorized flight off southern Sweden earlier this week while a French aircraft carrier was docked in the port of Malm, the Swedish military said Friday. The armed forces said in a statement that a Swedish naval vessel detected a drone taking off from a Russian signals intelligence ship []

New Delhi: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday visited SATTE 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Dwarka, Delhi and reiterated his Governments commitment to strengthening Jammu & Kashmirs position as the countrys premier all-season tourist destination. At SATTE 2026, the Chief Minister visited the Jammu & Kashmir Pavilion (Hall-1A) and was accompanied by his Advisor []

Inaugurates Youth Festival Goonj 2026 at University of Jammu Jammu, 27th February 2026: The Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the youth hold boundless power to steer society and nation toward the future. He emphasised on putting a dedicated focus on shaping balanced minds and bold innovators for sustainable development. Empowered youth []

New Delhi: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday asserted that Jammu & Kashmir is poised to emerge as a year-round global tourism destination, backed by renewed confidence, expanded infrastructure and diversified tourism offerings. He was addressing a grand promotional event held in New Delhi on Thursday evening, which was graced by the Union Minister of []

Srinagar: Day temperatures continued to remain above normal across most parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, with several stations recording departures of up to nine degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 21.0 degrees Celsius, which was nine degrees above normal, []

Srinagar: Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has registered a formal case against two individuals for their alleged involvement in a large-scale fraud related to procurement of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The case was initiated following a written complaint alleging that the accused, residents []

Marriages fail not because women work, but because mindsets refuse to evolve. The real crisis is not careers, but the absence of empathy and partnership in homes. Tahira Ellahe In todays modern world, where education has entered homes and women stand shoulder to shoulder with men in every profession, a painful question echoes through society: []

This article explores the science and philosophy of laughterits genetic roots, psychological theories, and profound benefits for mental and physical health B L Razdan Life is equally easy and strenuous to one and all. Life does not discriminate on the basis of gender, colour, geography, religion, etc. So then how is it that ones life []

Bandipora:The football tournament organised by Bandipora Police under the Civic Action Programme (CAP)2026 concluded successfully at Sports Stadium, Hajin on Friday. The final match was played between SSA Hajin and Real Soccer FC, in which SSA Hajin emerged victorious by defeating Real Soccer FC by 21 to lift the championship trophy. A large gathering []

Jammu: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), on Friday said to carry out a surprise two-day operation in Udhampur and Reasi, uncovering widespread illegal mining, officials said They said, ACB teams seized electronic devices, records, and fake Form-A documents from stone crusher units. Early findings suggest involvement of some officials, while all inspected sites were violating []

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday discharged former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the politically charged liquor policy case, pulling up the CBI by saying it found no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the policy. Among the 21 people given a clean chit in the []

Poonch: A suspected drone movement was observed over Gulpur village in the Poonch sector along the Line of Control on Friday morning, official sources said. They said that security forces detected the aerial object during routine surveillance and opened fire, discharging approximately 15 to 20 rounds in an attempt to neutralise it. However, []

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir tightened their hold on the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final by bowling out Karnataka for 293, establishing a commanding 291-run first-innings lead as play continues on Day 4. Karnatakas innings, revolved around a determined 160 from Mayank Agarwal, who occupied the crease for 266 balls and struck 21 boundaries in a []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar Thursday said that the promised restoration of statehood will reveal how committed the Central Government is to democracy, dignity and development in Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement issued today, Sagar said the assurance given by the Honble Prime Minister regarding the []

SRINAGAR: A delegation of the Jammu Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee (JKECC) today called on Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister for timely and considerate intervention in keeping in abeyance the order concerning the []

ANANTNAG: Dr. Bilal Mohiud Din Bhat assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, succeeding SF Hamid, during a formal handover ceremony held on Thursday at the DC Office. Senior officers of the district administration, including ADCs, CEO PDA, GM DIC, ACR, SDMs, ACD, Dy DEO, CPO, CAO, Dy Director Fisheries, Tehsildars, and other officers, were []

BUDGAM: In a formal handover ceremony held on Thursday in the office chamber of the Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, took over as DC Budgam.He took the charge as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam succeeding Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat. The DC took the charge in presence of ADC Budgam, Mehraj-ud-din shah, JD planning, ACR []

AWANTIPORA: The Habba Khatoon Centre for Kashmiri Language and Literature at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), in collaboration with the Young Dramatists Society and the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, organized a grand celebration to mark International Mother Tongue Day on the university campus. The event commenced []

JAMMU: Strengthening efforts to boost value addition and self-employment in the agriculture sector, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Thursday inaugurated a Modern Processing-cum-Training Centre for fruits and vegetables at Udheywala in Jammu. The centre, established at a cost of90 lakh, aims to []

HAJIN: With an aim to foster and reinforce the spirit of peace and communal harmony, the Manasbal battalion of 13RR of the Indian Army on Thursday hosted an Iftar Party at COB Shahgund Camp. Scores of locals and senior citizens gathered for a party to pray, eat, and converse. 13RR Shahgund conducted this event to []

SRINAGAR: Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb, conducted an extensive inspection of municipal assets at Tibetan Colony, Eidgah, and Devi Angan, Badam Wari, to review the status of civic infrastructure and assess the management, maintenance, and utilization of public facilities. During his visit to Tibetan Colony, Eidgah, the Commissioner undertook a comprehensive []

AWANTIPORA: J&K Police organised a special training session on the effective investigation of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Conference Hall, DPL Awantipora. The programme aimed to strengthen the professional competence of Investigating Officers (IOs) dealing with sensitive cases involving children. The session focused on the legal provisions []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Israel was against the countrys policy and not a good sign for Mahatma Gandhis India. She called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a criminal who is afraid of visiting many countries lest he be arrested. I think our []

Srinagar: The Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqis office on Thursday announced that Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for the year 2026 has been fixed at 80 per individual. The Grand Muftis office in a communique, emphasized that Zakat-ul-Fitr is compulsory for every Muslim, including men, women and infants. The parents must discharge the charity []

Srinagar: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday urged graduates of the University of Kashmir to stay away from drugs, use social media responsibly and respect diversity, saying success in life depends on character and discipline. Addressing the 21st convocation of the university, VP Radhakrishnan, said students must be prepared to face challenges beyond academics []

Srinagar: School Education Department on Thursday kept its order of Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) in abeyance till further orders. SED Secretary in an order said, The Government order regarding the designation of JKBOSE/State School Standards Authority (SSSA) as nodal agency for conducting TET is hereby kept in abeyance, till further orders. Earlier, in the previous []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said border villages in the region are no longer symbols of conflict but have emerged as symbols of connection, as the government partners with the Centre to promote tourism in these areas. Addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir, CM Omar,, said his []

Bandipora: At least 13 shops were damaged in a fire that broke out in the main market of Bandipora during the wee hours of Thursday, officials said. An official said fire tenders from Bandipora and nearby areas rushed to the spot soon after the blaze erupted. Personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and []

Jammu: A 20-year-old boy was found dead in mysterious circumstances at his home in the Mendhar area of Poonch district on Thursday. Officials said that during the night hours of Wednesday, a youth was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home. The deceased has been identified as Wajid Ali (20), son of Mohd []

Srinagar: Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K on Thursday said that it has registered a formal case against two individuals for their alleged involvement in a large-scale fraud related to procurement of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. In a handout, the CBK said that []

JERUSALEM: In a historic address to the Knesset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the Gaza Peace Initiative as a path towards just and durable peace in the region even as he delivered a powerful message of solidarity with Israel, asserting that terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere. Modi said like Israel, India has a []

Inspects 4th Bridge Tawi, warns of strict action against illegal mining violations JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, on Wednesday reiterated the Governments firm commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining across Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that strict action will be taken against violators as well as the negligent officials. During an inspection of []

Take onsite stock of preparations to augment facilities for pilgrims SRINAGAR: In connection with the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, the Deputy Commissioner(DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo along with Senior Superintendent of Police, Sundeep Chakravarthy visited the Yatra Transit Camp at Pantha Chowk to take onsite stock of the preparations being undertaken for the smooth and []

Expresses gratitude to Punjab CM, administration SRINAGAR: Noted Social and student rights activist Er. Ehtisham Khan, Co-founder of The Purpose (NGO), has welcomed the reported administrative action and inquiry initiated in connection with the recent developments involving Kashmiri Muslim students at CT University, Punjab. The matter, which had caused widespread concern among students and their []

BUDGAM: District Administration Budgam on Wednesday organized a warm farewell function in honour of the outgoing Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, on his transfer to district Anantnag as the Deputy Commissioner. The function was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Budgam, Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Budgam, all Sub-Divisional Magistrates []

KULGAM: Shahzad Alam on Wednesday assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner Kulgam. Soon after taking over charge, the Deputy Commissioner chaired an introductory meeting with district and sectoral officers at the Conference Hall mini-secretariat Secretariat. During the meeting, he interacted with officers and reviewed the overall functioning of various departments. Emphasising coordinated efforts and responsive governance, []

SRINAGAR: Handicrafts & Handloom (H&H) department inaugurated 2-day Trainee Products Sale at Kashmir Haat here on Wednesday. During the sale,Craft products like hand-knotted woollen carpets, GI-tagged Pashmina shawls and stoles, Crewel curtains, Sozni embroidered shawls, Zari & Aari embroidered suits, tweed cloth, Chain Stitch rugs and cushion covers, tapestry, Gabba and Namda products, papier mch []

Handed over for preservation AWANTIPORA: Police in Awantipora have successfully recovered 694 antique coins from the Pinglish area of Tral during a routine operation. The recovered items are believed to be of significant historical and archaeological value. The recovered antique coins were kept in safe custody under the supervision of the SHO Police Station Tral, []

Passion &continuous learning drive long-term growth SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar hosted distinguished alumnus Dr. Raju Pakalapati, a 1989 pass-out of the Department of Chemical Engineering, for an alumni lecture that drew participation from over 100 students on campus. The lecture is part of the Life Beyond Classroom (LBC) series, organised by []

GANDERBAL: In a sustained and proactive drive against illegal mining, Police in Ganderbal has intensified its action across the district. During the course of action, Police Teams seized eight vehicles including five Tractors and three Tippers involved in the illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals across the district. These vehicles were found transporting illegally []

Emphasizes Ikhlaq in Ramzan SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, delivered a sermon at Masjid Abu Bakr (RA), Zoonimar, in connection with the blessed month of Ramzan, expressing concern over the decline in social conduct and the growing culture of verbal hostility in society. Emphasizing Ikhlaq (noble character), Mirwaiz stated that Ramzan is not []

Srinagar The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday activated dedicated 247 helplines to assist residents of the Union Territory returning from Iran. According to an advisory, the decision follows an advisory released by the Embassy of India in Tehran on February 23, 2026. The helplines are aimed at facilitating information-sharing and providing assistance to J&K []

Jammu: Security forces on Wednesday recovered arms and ammunition including IEDs were recovered by security forces in Kasbalari Mendhar area of Poonch. Officials said that security forces during routine patrolling recovered a suspicious black bag. With atmost care during the inspection of bag, 1 large IED weighing 4.5 Kg, small IED, 2 Chinese grenades, one []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir will be the last region in the country to enforce the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) guidelines, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said on Wednesday, a day after the School Education Department (SED) issued the formal order. Speaking to reporters, Itoo, said, We are not implementing the TET orders immediately. J&K will be []

Gulmarg: Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma on Wednesday defended the use of artificial snow for winter sports, countering BJP criticism by saying the practice aligns with global standards and is essential for hosting high-level competitions. Minister Sharma said artificial snow is widely used at leading winter sports destinations worldwide to ensure consistency amid []