From “heritage politics” to allegations of land grabbing, the Mawa-Hami tussle is more than just a clash of personalities. It exposes a deep fault line in the Valley’s governance, where religious trusts operate as opaque family enterprises and state land becomes collateral damage By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander In recent weeks, the political and […]
Op-Ed
Dismantling VVIP Culture on J&K Roads
Beacon lights fade and barricades thin out as Jammu & Kashmir moves toward reclaiming its roads for the common commuter. By Zulfiqar Alam The silent creep of noise pollution has evolved into one of the most pervasive irritants of modern life, and in Jammu and Kashmir, this auditory assault has found a particularly aggressive voice […]
Energy Autonomy in Kashmir
For years, the narrative of Kashmir’s winter was defined by the struggle for warmth against a backdrop of power deficits. Today, that narrative has been rewritten. Under the visionary leadership of the current administration and the ambitious framework of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the Valley is undergoing a historic transition from […]
The Terrifying Logic of the ‘Digital Arrest’
The digital ledger of Jammu and Kashmir for 2025 tells a grim story, one where the cost of convenience has been levied at a staggering Rs 184.91 crore. This figure, released recently by the Cyber Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), is not merely a statistic of financial loss; it is a quantification of fear, greed, […]
The Loneliness We Built Ourselves
From shared meals to silent hallways, this is the story of how communities dissolved into strangers. By Abid Hussain Rather There was a time—close enough to remember, distant enough to ache for—when life unfolded in the open, stitched together by neighbours who lived not just beside one another but with one another. In the neighbourhoods […]
The Pahalgam Chargesheet
By Chasfeeda Shah The 1,597-page chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) this month stands as a powerful testament to India’s unwavering commitment to justice and national security. By meticulously documenting the terror strikes in the Pahalgam region earlier this year—specifically the targeted attacks on tourists and non-locals—the NIA has not only built a […]
The Invisible Threat
By Chasfeeda Shah The recent car bomb blast in Delhi wasn’t just another act of violence—it was a chilling reminder that terrorism is mutating. The familiar image of armed terrorists hiding in shadows has given way to something more insidious: white-collar terrorism. This new breed wears ties instead of camouflage, works behind desks instead of […]
Is This Man Enough?
In a world that praises strength but punishes vulnerability, men are breaking under the weight of their silence. This story unpacks what it truly means to be “man enough.” By Tamana Ajaz It was 3:21 a.m. when I first glimpsed the fragile heart of manhood. I was eight years old, traveling from Srinagar to Shopian […]
Mind Matters
By Chasfeeda Shah Amid the picturesque beauty of Jammu and Kashmir lies a silent crisis that afflicts minds and hearts. The growing number of people seeking psychiatric help marks both a warning and a glimmer of hope. With over 2.7 lakh patients treated at GMC Anantnag in the past five years and nearly two lakh […]
Kashmir’s Highway Woes Return Each Harvest
Without alternate routes, cold storage, or reliable rail freight, Kashmir’s apple industry remains hostage to one fragile road. By Aamir Wani Every autumn, as the apple orchards of Kashmir turn red with ripened fruit and families prepare for their most crucial harvest of the year, the Valley finds itself caught in a familiar trap. Truckloads […]