Kashmir Reader

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday welcomed RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabales remarks that there should always be a window for dialogue with Pakistan, stating that there was no other option but talks to resolve issues. We welcome it. It vindicates the stand of PDP, especially that of (party founder and former chief []

KOLKATA: New elected West Bengal legislators, including Chief Minister Sivendu Adhikari, took oath in the Assembly on Wednesday. Pro tem Speaker Tapas Roy administered the oath. Newly appointed state ministers Agnimitra Paul, Dilip Ghosh, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik were among those who took oath as MLAs in the 294-member House. []

Anantnag: During his visit to Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam School in Anantnag (Islamabad), Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq said that after eight long years he had been allowed by authorities to visit the institution. Interacting with the students present, he expressed happiness and lauded the work being carried out by the Nusrat-ul-Islam Trust for the benefit of []

Srinagar: National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Wednesday took a sharp dig at Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, saying he would offer him coffee and remind him that this is Jammu and Kashmir, not Assam. Speaking with reporters, Tanvir Sadiq,said the BJP was disconnected from the political realities of Jammu and Kashmir []

CBI to probe irregularities Re-examination dates to be notified NTA extends full cooperation New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday announced the cancellation of NEET (UG) 2026 conducted on May 3, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. The CBI will carry out a comprehensive inquiry into []

Joins Drug-Free J&K Campaign Padyatra in Baramulla Baramulla: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday joined the Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir campaign in Baramulla, engaging with citizens and participating in a Padyatra. The Lieutenant Governor also announced the launch of two innovative pillars under the campaign for the next 69 days- the Community Immunization Program against drugs []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday visited Vibrant Village, Uran Bowa in Baramulla, reviewed ongoing schemes and addressed a public gathering. The Lieutenant Governor said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, border villages distance from Delhi has reduced. They are connected to the mainstream of development and it is commitment of []

New Delhi: India on Tuesday said reports of Chinese support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor corroborated what was already known and that responsible nations must reflect on how backing efforts to shield terrorist infrastructure would affect their global standing. New Delhis comments came days after China confirmed that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan []

Srinagar: Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Wednesday slammed the Omar Abdullah-led government over governance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying its headquarters seem to lie somewhere between marathon tracks and Gulmargs ski slopes. Sharma alleged that misgovernance and corruption have peaked during Omar Abdullahs government. If you are looking for Omar Abdullah or his []

Rousseau stressed: education should be for nature, by nature, through nature, and of nature. Local picnics should be made mandatory and part of the timetablewith no financial burden on parents. They can easily be managed. Muntashir Kifayat Hussain The other day, we at our secondary schoolBoys High School, Narbaldecided on a Saturday outing to the []

Two systems operate side by side in every workplace: one built on merit, the other on influence, favouritism, and internal alliances. When influence outweighs merit, it slowly weakens something far more critical than moraleauthentic leadership. Great leaders are not defined by the absence of politics, but by their refusal to become part of it. Shah []

Recovering addicts return from rehabilitation only to face rejection and isolation. Where is the research-based, measurable framework beyond slogans? These are not political questions. These are human questions. Arshid Qalmi Kashmir today is not merely facing a drug problem. It is witnessing a silent psychological collapse unfolding inside homes, classrooms, streets, and hearts. Every family []

Under the RET scheme, many candidates were appointed as teachers without professional teaching qualifications such as a BEd. Recruitment was influenced more by local considerations than merit. On the other side, thousands of highly qualified youthwith PG, BEd, MEd, NET, SET, JRF, and even PhDremained unemployed. Teaching is not merely about occupying a classroom; it []

The name Iqrathe very first word of the Holy Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)carries profound significance. May the divine command continue to echo through the halls for generations to come. Mehraj Rasool In a heartening and blessed development for the education landscape of Dangerpora, Sopore, the Iqra Library was recently inauguratedin Dangerpora.This pioneering initiative []

WASHINGTON: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday called for dumping Pakistan as mediators in the US-Iran war, citing reports that Islamabad had allowed Iran to use their airbases to park military aircraft. Graham, the Senator from South Carolina, expressed his frustration at the stalemate in the peace talks with Iran during a hearing of the []

SRINAGAR: Kashmirs chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday said the ongoing anti-drug campaign wont achieve the desired results unless action is also taken against liquor, which he said was equally harmful to society and destroying families. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the Mirwaiz said the campaign against drugs should []

Baramulla: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said over two lakh outreach programmes have been conducted across Jammu and Kashmir as part of the governments campaign against drug abuse, asserting that strict action will continue against drug peddlers across the Union Territory. Addressing a mega padyatra in Baramulla, the Lieutenant Governor, said the administration and []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is scheduled to see doctors for a medical and dental checkup this month his fourth publicised visit to medical experts since returning to office in what the White House describes as an annual physical and regular preventive care. Trump, who turns 80 next month and was the oldest person []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir has registered three cases against a Kupwara man for allegedly duping several people on the pretext of providing government jobs, officials said on Monday. In a statement, a spokesperson said the Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has registered three separate cases against accused Abdul Majeed []

Discusses statehood, key issues concerning J&K New Delhi: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah here and held detailed discussions on a range of important issues concerning Jammu & Kashmir. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed several significant matters including restoration of Statehood, Transaction of Business Rules, rationalisation of []

Inaugurates National Youth Festival- Aarohan 2026 in Srinagar Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated National Youth Festival- Aarohan 2026 in Srinagar. The Lieutenant Governor said this event declares a new vision of Rise, Shine, and Conquer to our youth which encapsulates a complete philosophy that lights the path to the future, a promise, []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed Puja on Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a celebration of 1,000 years of unbroken faith and unyielding resolve. He also attended a public event organized on the sacred occasion at Lok Bhavan. The Lieutenant Governor said, Despite countless atrocities and invasions by aggressors, Somnath has remained a guiding light ushering Bharat []

Calls for public participation in Self-Enumeration from May 17 Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo on Monday chaired the 3rd meeting of the UT Level Census Coordination Committee here to review the preparedness for the initial phase of Self-Enumeration and House Listing activities for Census 2027 across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Secretary []

New Delhi: The government will put on sale 12 limestone blocks in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday. The auction will pave the way for reviving the UTs mining sector and boosting the local economy. The Ministry of Minesis set to launch the second tranche of auction of limestone blocks in the []

Says Mehbooba must answer for 2015 betrayal Leads party functionaries in offering tributes to Sheikh Mansoor SRINAGAR:The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference senior leader and Minister for Health & Medical Education, School & Higher Education and Social Welfare, Sakina Masood Itoo Monday led party functionaries in offering floral tributes and Fateha to veteran NC leader []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday performed puja on Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a celebration of 1,000 years of unbroken faith and unyielding resolve. Sinha also attended a public event organised on the sacred occasion at Lok Bhavan, an official spokesman said. The lieutenant governor (LG) said that despite countless atrocities and []

DUBAI: Iran has sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the more than two-month war to mediator Pakistan, Irans IRNA news agency said on Sunday. According to Irans proposal, the current phase of negotiations will focus exclusively on the cessation of hostilities in the region, a source familiar with the matter told []

LEH: The UT of Ladakh is all set to achieve a unique fusion of renewable energy generation and modern sporting infrastructure, with Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena giving approval for the installation of a solar plant atop the famous Ice-Hockey Rink in Leh. The 500 kWp on-grid Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Plant on the rooftop of []

Free electricity, anti-drug, women safety task forces CHENNAI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief C Joseph Vijay on Sunday signed his first set of documents after taking oath as the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, approving a series of welfare measures aimed at public welfare and womens safety. Soon after assuming office, Vijay, accompanied by Congress []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that he will discuss the issue of the Transaction of Business Rules of the Union Territory and reservation with the Union Home Minister today. Speaking to reporters,said the CM said that he will raise matters related to the Business Rules, the appointment of the Advocate General, and []

A person who reads books regularly becomes both a critical and a creative thinker. They do not take things at face value; instead, they chase the real value of things. Syed Mustafa Ahmad and Iqra Bashir Reading books is one of the healthiesthabits one can think of.In the present age of smartphones, reading books isa []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has rejected Irans proposal to end the months-long war as totally unacceptable without sharing details even as a key Republican leader urged him to consider the military option. Trump received the Iranian proposal on Sunday amid hopes that it could lead to a breakthrough to end the war with Iran []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday of levelling false and baseless allegations against his government, alleging that she wants to divert peoples attention from her partys help to the BJP in winning a Rajya Sabha seat from the Union Territory last year. I was listening to []

Exhorts them to uphold JKPs glorious legacy with integrity, commitment to national service Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over Appointment Letters to the newly recruited Constables of Jammu Kashmir Police during a landmark presentation ceremony at the Armed Police Complex, Zewan. Around 4000 recruits were selected through a transparent, merit-based process conducted []

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to use petrol, diesel, and gas with great restraint amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it the need of the hour. Speaking in Hyderabad after inaugurating development projects worth approximately Rs 9,400 crore, the Prime Minister []

Calls for zero-casualty disaster management New Delhi: At a high-level meeting on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the countrys preparedness to deal with potential floods and heatwaves and underlined that efforts should be made to achieve zero-casualty disaster management. Shah said at least 60 lakes should be included in the plan to develop []

Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday pitched for a dialogue between India and Pakistan, claiming that backchannel engagements between the two countries were continuing despite the public rhetoric against them. They talk about Operation Sindoor. But do you know that for the last three months, secret talks with Pakistan have been going []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects worth 42.38 crore across Ganderbal district, aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure, road connectivity, public amenities, youth facilities, heritage conservation and tourism development. The Chief Minister began his tour at Beehama, Ganderbal, where he laid the foundation stone for construction []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday dedicated medical equipment worth 2.25 crore to the public at Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital, further strengthening critical healthcare facilities at the hospital. The Chief Minister inaugurated advanced medical equipment under Corporate Social Responsibility by HDFC Bank including an ERCP Endoscopy Machine, Ultra/Doppler Sound Machine, Tissue Processor for []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday inaugurated the India Golf Carnival 2026 tournament at the Royal Springs Golf Course here. He officially inaugurated the tournament by teeing off at the golf course. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Jammu & Kashmir holds immense potential for golf and adventure tourism and that events []

Ganderbal: In view of the rising water level and strong currents in River Sindh, Police in Ganderbal have issued a public advisory urging residents, visitors, tourists and especially youngsters to strictly avoid venturing near the banks of the river. People are advised not to bathe, swim, or take selfies near vulnerable spots along the river, []

Joins Padyatra at Anantnag, appeals people to break silence to win this war Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday joined Padyatra at Anantnag as part of Drug-Free J&K Campaign. Addressing a public gathering, the Lieutenant Governor appealed to the people to break the silence to win this war against drugs and all sections of []

MeT forecasts rain, hailstorms between May 11-13 Srinagar: Kashmir witnessed an unusual rise in day temperatures on Saturday, with Srinagar recording 31.7 degrees Celsius, which was 7.6 degrees above normal, while several other places across the Valley also saw temperatures significantly above seasonal averages. According to the data, Qazigund recorded 31.0C, Pahalgam 25.2C, Kupwara 29.5C, []

Streams, springs, rivers flowing below normal across multiple districts Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded below-normal precipitation for six consecutive months, raising concerns over a looming water crisis, declining river levels and reduced hydroelectric power generation in the Union Territory, according to weather data shared by Kashmir Weather. The latest figures for April show that []

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday that strict action should be taken against drug peddlers, but innocent families should not suffer by having their houses demolished. While addressing a party convention in central Kashmirs Budgam district, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said, If anyone is involved in []

2,16,123 awareness events involving over 1 crore participants held 614 FIRs, 646 arrested, 435 drug peddlers apprehended, 160 drug hotspots identified 3.8 kg heroin, 32.92 kg charas, 222.31 kg ganja seized till date Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Administration has achieved significant progress under the ongoing 100 Days Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan, reflecting a comprehensive []

Online Registration open till May 27 Srinagar: Directorate of Colleges, Higher Education Department, Jammu & Kashmir, has announced the commencement of admissions for the Academic Session 2026-27 for Four-Year Undergraduate Programs (FYUGP) and 5-Year Integrated Post-Graduate (IG) Programs with multiple exit options across all 142 Government Degree Colleges of the Union Territory. The centralised admission []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is set to receive 200 electric buses under the PM E Drive Scheme, a major push towards sustainable and eco-friendly public transport in the Union Territory. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy conveyed the approval in an official communication addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The []

The Middle East is brimming with opportunities, resources, and human capital that, if united, would allow us to be influential not only in our own affairs but in shaping the world around usmaking it more stable, more representative of our peoples aspirations, and, ultimately, more just. Ramzy Baroud Much of the current discourse on the []

The Zehanpora (2000-year-old Buddhist complex) discovery, featured in PM Modis Mann Ki Baat, has catalysed efforts to establish an on-site museum and transform the region into a hub for heritage and pilgrimage tourism. Non-invasive techniques like LiDAR mapping are now being used to safeguard sites without disturbing the surrounding landscape. The story of Kashmir is []