Year: 2021

Avoid Internet Bans by Using a Free VPN that works in Kashmir

Editor

On the first week of February 2021, the Indian authorities agreed to finally restore nationwide internet access by temporarily lifting the 18-month ban, the longest internet blackout in a democratic country. With this move, schools, banks, and other essential online services are now free to operate without restrictions. Additionally, the lifting of the internet ban can help in the improvement of the healthcare system in the country, especially in an era where proper healthcare is needed the most. But given the previous incidents, it will probably take just enough time…

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GA Mir briefly detained for protesting against inflation

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president GA Mir was briefly detained here on Sunday along with over 12 party workers during a protest against the rising fuel prices, police said. The police acted after Mir, along with senior party colleagues and former ministers Raman Bhalla and Yogesh Sawhney, tried to take out a rally against the price hike of essential commodities, especially petrol, diesel and LPG at Janipur locality of the city. Accompanied by a large number of party activists and supporters, the Congress leaders earlier staged a…

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Saudi Arabia maintains neutrality over the Kashmir Issue

Editor

Much to Pakistan’s dismay and India’s delight, Saudi Arabia maintained neutrality over the Kashmir issue, even when Islamabad is making all efforts to mend its relations with the Gulf country and is wooing it to change its stance. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, his government has had good relations with Saudi Arabia. After the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Riyadh in October 2019, Saudi Arabia has maintained neutrality over Kashmir and backed India on cross-border terrorism, said Abhinav Pandya, a strategic analyst and the CEO…

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JKPCC leadership protested against rising Fuel Prices & Property Tax

Editor

J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir and 145 other party leaders and activists Thursday courted arrest, after a brief scuffle with the police which foiled their attempt to march towards Civil Secretariat from Satwari, in protest against soaring fuel prices and imposition of property tax. The police, later, freed all the detained leaders and activists. Led by JKPCC president GA Mir, the protesters assembled here at Satwari against property tax, toll plazas, hike in diesel, petrol and LPG prices and staged a dharna. While shouting slogans against…

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Would Saudi Arabia change its stance on Kashmir, as Imran Khan tries to mend ties with Riyadh?

Editor

The Imran Khan government in Pakistan is trying to mend its ties with Saudi Arabia, which had hit a low last year. Does this mean Riyadh will change its stance on Kashmir? While the Pakistan-Saudi relations hit a rough patch in 2020, both New Delhi and Riyadh strengthened their ties and pledged to work together in various sectors. All this while, Islamabad’s rhetoric on Kashmir has not found any takers among its allies, including Saudi Arabia. In August 2020, cracks had surfaced in the Pakistan-Saudi relations after Foreign Minister Shah…

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Noon Chai, Kashmir’s favorite salty beverage

Editor

Noon Chai or Sheer Chai—a pink-coloured salted tea with a mixture of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) has been the traditional beverage of Kashmiris for centuries. People in Kashmir are known to be connoisseurs of making Noon Chai and usually consume it in the morning and the afternoon with Tchwoer or Girda (Oven-baked bread). What makes the tea pink? While preparing the tea, it develops a maroon hue through oxidation and aeration by mixing a certain amount of sodium bicarbonate. However, the origins of Noon Chai is not confirmed as to…

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Red Fort Violence: Delhi Police arrest farmer leaders from Jammu

Editor

The Delhi Police today said its crime branch sleuths, in association with the J&K Poilce, tracked down and apprehended two more accused for their alleged involvement in the Red Fort violence during the farmers’ tractor parade on January 26. Delhi Police Additional PRO Anil Mittal said Jammu and Kashmir United Kisan Front chairman Mohinder Singh (45), a resident of Chatha area of Jammu, and Mandeep Singh (23) of Gole Gujral, Jammu, were alleged to have been “active participants and key conspirators” in the violence. Farmers blocked the Jammu-Pathankot highway here…

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Kashmir Situation likely to deteriorate in 2021: Report

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Peace to remain elusive as India, Pakistan ‘resorting to militarized strategies’ By: Hilal Mir Violence along the de-facto border in Kashmir is likely to continue to increase and India and Pakistan are unlikely in the near future to make efforts to resolve the conflict bilaterally, according to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) Project.The grim prediction is based on ACLED’s analysis of the events of 2020, which it called the most violent since 2016 when Kashmir witnessed months-long protests against India triggered by the killing…

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Frisking, CASO, Crackdown returned to Srinagar City, Pheran wearing population on hit-list

Editor

Twenty-five-year-old Abid Lone grew up hearing horrifying stories from his father about crackdowns by the government forces in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. His father would be dragged out of the garments’ shop on Hari Singh High Street in the middle of the day for frisking. “It was normal for my father,” he recalled. However, it never happened with him until today. On Monday afternoon, the clocks turned back to the 1990s, when the insurgency was at its peak in Kashmir Valley and such random frisking was…

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Aharbal – Kashmir’s own Niagara Falls

Editor

About 70 kilometres distance from summer capital Srinagar, Aharbal waterfall comes under the jurisdiction of south Kashmir district Kulgam. This hill station in the south-western part of the valley has a mesmerizing beauty, having the potential to lure the visitor’s attention. The spot is suitable for trekking, vlogging, photography, fishing and expeditions as well. Those fond of fishing often visit this place on Sunday’s to enjoy the fish catching. Like other tourist destinations of Kashmir, Aharbal possesses the mesmerizing look of meadows, pine and fir tree forests, the abutting snow-clad…

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