Kashmir Reader

DUBAI: Iran hit an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwaits airport on Wednesday, while airstrikes battered Tehran even as US President Donald Trump said he was nearly ready to wind down the war and claimed that Irans president wanted a ceasefire. Iran had no immediate response to Trumps claim on social media []

Jammu: National Conference MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri on Wednesday broke down in the Assembly while pleading with fellow legislators and the government to allow the introduction of his reservation-related bill. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Bashir Ahmad Veeri pleaded with the Government to allow the introduction of his bill. I have only one son. He []

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a tea garden in Dibrugarh district in poll-bound Assam on Wednesday and plucked leaves along with women workers. Modi asserted that tea is the soul of Assam, and described his visit to the estate, where he plucked the leaves and put them into a traditional basket, as a memorable []

Srinagar:The Special Crime Wing, Srinagar of Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet in case FIR No. 02/2025 under Sections 420 and 201 IPC against Farhat Abbas Malik S/o Din Mohammad Malik R/o Tendala, Tehsil Chilipingal, District Doda, before the Honble Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar. In a handout, the CBK said that the case []

DUBAI: Israel said early Wednesday it struck a plant supplying Irans theocracy with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to allegedly use in a chemical weapons programme. Iran acknowledged the strike on Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it only supplied hospital drugs used in medical operations. The strike happened Tuesday, both Israel and Iran said. Iran []

Srinagar: An unidentified militant has been killed on Wednesday morning in the Arhama forest area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district. Taking on micro-blogging platform X, the armys Chinar Corps wrote, During the night of 31 Mar 26, the cordon was tactically reorganised amidst the intermittent firing underway. Own troops effectively retaliated with calibrated response []

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that the responsibility for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open should belong with countries that rely on it, rather than the US. He said theres no reason for us to do this. Trump expressed frustration earlier Tuesday with allies who have been unwilling to do more to []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump cares deeply about the US-India relationship, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Tuesday after meeting Trump at the White House. Back in the US for a few days. First stop, meeting with our GREAT President in the White House. The President deeply cares about the relationship between the []

Says move comes weeks after assassination attempt on party chief Farooq Abdullah Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed surprise over the withdrawal of security at National Conference headquarters in Srinagar, pointing out that the move comes barely weeks after an assassination attempt on party president and his father, Farooq Abdullah. []

Jammu: Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday said authorities must declare Jammu and Kashmir risk-free or ensure security for all, as the National Conference (NC) flagged withdrawal of security from its party headquarters in Srinagar. If leaders are not safe, the national flag they hold, unfortunately, will not be safe, he said, cautioning against a []

Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday expressed concern over the delay in restoring statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was eroding public trust in democratic institutions. The prolonged postponement of this constitutional right is deeply unfortunate, Abdullah said while interacting with party functionaries here. Abdullah emphasised that the restoration of full statehood, []

Assures regular settlement of bills Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday informed the House that bills amounting to 12,561.31 crore under various heads, including gratuity, commutation, leave salary and contractor payments, have been cleared up to March 27, 2026, while GPF bills worth 5,821.43 crore have been settled up to December 31, 2025. The []

JAMMU: At least five glacial lakes in the Kashmir Himalaya have very high susceptibility to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), even though they are not immediately unstable, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday. Speaking in the assembly, Abdullah said a preliminary geospatial analysis was conducted to map downstream exposure of glacial []

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said nations upset by high fuel prices should go get your own oil as Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump expressed his frustration toward allies that have been unwilling to help the US reopen the critical passageway in a social media post. Go get []

Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday applauded the cabinets approval for the construction of the Rajbagh flyover, which will connect the Sangarmal Complex to the Rajbagh Police Station. Mr. Bukhari recalled how former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had damaged the project during her tenure by exhibiting what []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to target Irans energy infrastructure, including the countrys desalination plants. Such a move, and Irans possible targeting of the plants of its Gulf Arab neighbours, could have devastating impacts across the water-starved Middle East. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said if a deal to end []

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Irans energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, if a deal to end the war with Tehran is not reached shortly. Trump said the US is negotiating with Irans parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in an interview with the New York Post []

JAMMU: Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday called for united efforts by the government and opposition to restore the strength and dignity of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Mufti made the remark after watching the Assembly proceedings from the speakers gallery, her first appearance in the House after the fall []

Jammu: Even as 33 proposed legislations have been listed for introduction on the first of the two days reserved for private member bills in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, all eyes are on the National Conference-led Governments stance regarding its legislator Tanvir Sadiqs bill seeking the extension of leases to current occupants. Bill has []

ABOARD AIRFORCE ONE: President Donald Trump on Sunday night said he has no problem with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba delivering relief to the island, which has been brought to its knees by a US oil blockade. We have a tanker out there. We dont mind having somebody get a boatload []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to allow 20 ships carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning and continuing over the next few days out of a sign of respect. I would only say that were doing extremely well in that negotiation but you never know with Iran []

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced Sunday that it will soon host talks between the US and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether discussions on the month-long war would be direct or indirect. Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in []

MOSCOW:Moscow is apprehensive that the US could try to take control of a key Afghan Base amid its escalating military conflict with Iran, a senior Russian diplomat has said. Speaking in an interview with the government news agency RIA Novosti on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putins special envoy on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said that the []

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the cricket team of Jammu and Kashmir for bagging the Ranji Trophy title for the first time and expressed hope that this winning streak of sports persons there continues in the future. Addressing his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi said March has been a []

Flags off first-ever Jammu Marathon Runs Half Marathon, completes in under two hours Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday flagged off the Jammu Marathon from Maulana Azad Stadium here and also completed the 21.1 km Half Marathon, leading from the front in promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Braving rain, hundreds of participants, including []

Jammu: The State Election Commission is making necessary arrangements for holding panchayat and urban local bodies (ULB) elections at the earliest, the Jammu and Kashmir government has said. The tenure of municipalities ended in October-November 2023, while panchayats and block development councils completed their five-year term on January 9, 2024. The term of district development []

Jammu: Addressing the concerns of legislators, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that funds earmarked under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) are non-lapsable, with savings exceeding Rs 25 crore recorded under the scheme. In a written reply to a starred question tabled by National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Saturday, Abdullah, who holds []

Jammu: More than a year after 17 people died under mysterious circumstances in a remote village in Rajouri district, the Jammu and Kashmir government has cited specific pesticide compounds and elevated cadmium levels as part of fresh, though provisional, findings into the incident. In a written reply to a starred question, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday passed three important Bills through voice vote, marking a significant step towards governance reforms, social equity and strengthening of the judicial framework in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bills were moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and were subsequently put to vote by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday laid on the Table of the House copies of key financial and audit documents pertaining to Jammu and Kashmirs finances. The documents placed before the House include: * Finance Accounts (Volume I) for the year 202324; * Finance Accounts (Volume II) for the year 202324; * Appropriation Accounts []

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the Government is examining a proposal for the notification of new tourism-worthy areas in Jammu & Kashmir, including several locations in District Doda. Replying to a question raised by MLA Doda West, Shakti Raj Parihar, during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session of the Legislative []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it has retrieved and restored encroached land belonging to Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. Replying to a question by BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, Land measuring 3,729 kanals and 4 marlas belonging to Kashmiri migrants has been retrieved and []

Focus on homestays, trekking, border tourism JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that Karnah has immense potential for border tourism, hiking and trekking, asserting that the government is working on a comprehensive programme to promote tourism in the area. The Chief Minister was replying to a supplementary raised by the MLA Karnah during []

Jammu: Cutting across party lines, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday condemned the recent assassination attempt on the life of ruling National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and demanded a judicial probe into the incident. Members from the ruling NC, as well as the PDP, Congress, CPI(M), Peoples Conference, and Independents, raised concerns over []

Srinagar: BSF Director General Praveen Kumar reviewed the security scenario and operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir during his three-day visit to the valley, the force said on Saturday. The BSF chiefs three-day visit concluded on Saturday. DG BSF Shri Praveen Kumar, IPS visited BSF Kashmir Frontier, to review the security []

Srinagar: The India Meteorological Department on Saturday forecast generally cloudy weather across Jammu and Kashmir with intermittent light to moderate rain and snowfall in higher reaches till March 30. An official of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar said that weather is expected to remain cloudy towards evening between March 28 and 30, with chances of []

Jammu, Mar 26: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said that a significant number of schools across the Union territory continue to face deficiencies in basic infrastructure, including toilets, drinking water, boundary walls and playgrounds. Replying to a question in the assembly, the government said that as per official data for 2025-26, out of []

Interacts with CMs, calls for vigilance against online fraud, fake agents; special focus on border, coastal states New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reviewed with chief ministers of all but poll-bound states their preparedness and plans in the wake of the West Asia conflict. The virtual meeting was aimed at ensuring synergy of []

Says conflict is humanitarian crisis impacting India directly Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to leverage Indias strong diplomatic relations with key global players to help end the ongoing conflict in West Asia and alleviate human suffering in the region. The Chief Minister made these remarks []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday said the Union Territory possesses an estimated hydropower potential of about 18,000 MW, of which nearly 15,000 MW has been identified, and that it is on a fast track to triple its installed capacity to around 11,000 MW by 2035. Replying to a question of MLA Javaid []

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his historic decision to insulate households from supply disruptions triggered by the West Asia crisis. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said: Prioritizing citizen welfare, Honble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji has taken historic decision to insulate households from supply []

Jammu: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary on Friday said that the media, regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy, has historically played a significant role in the nations freedom struggle and enjoyed the trust of the people. The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to the issues raised by the Members during a Short Duration Discussion []

Conveys condolences, solidarity with people of Iran Srinagar: A delegation of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), led by its patron Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq and comprising Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Mosvi, and Aga Syed Hadi Al-Mosvi, Aga Syed Mujtaba met the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Mohammad Fathali, and other officials []

NEW DELHI: The 2026-27 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will begin on January 21 next year in Nagpur, according to the BCCIs international home season schedule released on Thursday. The second Test will be played in Chennai between January 29 and February 2, while the third Test will be held in Guwahati from February []

New Delh: India has enough petrol, diesel and LPG stocks to last at least two months with normal delivery cycles, the government said on Friday, as it ruled out imposing any lockdown in view of energy supply disruptions caused by the war in West Asia. India has about 60 days of oil stock cover []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday said they have arrested a Forest Guard and a Forester in Rajouri after catching them red-handed while accepting Rs 7,000, taking the total bribe amount to Rs 37,000 in a case of alleged extortion over a land dispute, officials said. In a statement ,the J&K []

Srinagar: A snow avalanche struck near Dayal Pass along the Zojila axis in Jammu and Kashmirs Ganderbal district on Friday, leaving several vehicles trapped under snow and debris, officials said. An official said that around three to four passenger vehicles were caught in the avalanche, which struck in Ganderbal and forced the closure of the []

NEW DELHI: The government has slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre, averting a pump price hike that had become necessary because of soaring global oil prices. The cut in special additional excise duty on petrol from Rs 13 a litre to Rs 3 and the same on diesel from []

Srinagar: An 18-year-old fruit vendor was injured after being stabbed by an another person in the Soura area of Srinagar on Friday, officials said. An official said that the youth sustained injuries after being attacked with a sharp-edged weapon near Jinab Sahib in Soura. He was immediately shifted to a hospital for treatment. He has []

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir assembly was adjourned for half an hour on Friday as a pandemonium broke out soon after the budget session resumed after a five-week recess. Members from both the treasury and the opposition benches stood up, raising slogans and disrupting the Question Hour despite Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly asking the legislators []