Dalai Lama’s 2025 Visit to Ladakh Begins July 12: Spiritual Teachings, Preparations & Cultural Significance By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 04 July 2025 A Sacred Return to the Mountains In a region defined by silence, spirituality, and snow-capped serenity, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama returns to Ladakh for a month-long visit beginning July 12, 2025. This will mark his first in-person visit in two years, coming just days after his 90th birthday celebrations held globally from July 5–6. Anticipation is growing in the valleys and monasteries of Leh,…
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Kashmir’s Agricultural Revival: Centre Mulling Big Interventions to Empower Farmers and Rebuild the Rural Economy
Centre Plans Major Agriculture Interventions in Kashmir: Dairy, Fisheries, and Gene-Edited Sheep Drive Rural Revival By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025 A Rural Revival in Motion When people think of Kashmir, they often imagine serene valleys, snow-capped peaks, and a centuries-old tradition of horticulture. But beyond the postcard image lies a reality of economic underdevelopment in rural belts—especially in agriculture, which, despite employing over 70% of the region’s workforce, remains grossly undercapitalized and infrastructure-poor. Now, a sweeping change is on the horizon. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh,…
Read MoreKashmir’s Lifeline River Jhelum Runs Dry: Lowest Levels in Five Years Herald a Regional Crisis
Kashmir’s Jhelum Hits 5-Year Low: A Climate, Environmental & Humanitarian Emergency By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025 When the River That Fed Millions Feels Empty The Jhelum River, the vital water artery that has sustained communities, farms, and ecosystems in Kashmir for centuries, is today sounding an alarm. On June 30, the river’s gauge dropped to just 0.57 feet, marking its lowest level in five years—a chilling sign that climate change is no longer on the horizon; it is here. This article delves deep into the factors driving…
Read MoreTourism Collapse in Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack: Why Parliament Must Rise in Solidarity
Kashmir’s Tourism Crisis After Pahalgam Attack: A Call for National Solidarity from Parliament By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025 When Silence Becomes a Second Attack The air in Kashmir is quieter now—not because of peace, but because the usual hum of tourists has disappeared. The houseboats that once rocked gently under the laughter of honeymooners lie deserted. Hotels that thrived on group bookings now face cancellation after cancellation. Taxi drivers, pony owners, and local artisans stare at empty streets, waiting for a visitor who never arrives. This…
Read MoreKCCI Welcomes J&K Bank’s ‘Karz Se Mukti’ Extension: A Lifeline for Businesses Amid Economic Distress
Karz Se Mukti: J&K Bank’s Lifeline for Kashmir’s Business Sector Gets a Much-Needed Extension By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 A Valley in Economic Recovery Mode In a region as volatile and economically fragile as Jammu and Kashmir, every policy decision can have sweeping consequences for its struggling business ecosystem. One such decision—a two-month extension of the “Karz Se Mukti” scheme by Jammu & Kashmir Bank—is more than just a deadline shift. It is a lifeline, a gesture of trust, and a bridge between temporary despair and…
Read MoreWater, Power, and Protest: Police Foil PDP March in Srinagar, Detain Senior Leaders
Governance in the Heat – A Valley Boils Over By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 As Kashmir reels under an unprecedented heatwave, basic civic services like water and electricity have become scarce luxuries. On Tuesday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) attempted to lead a protest march through Srinagar to highlight the worsening conditions—but police forces intercepted the rally, detained multiple leaders, and prevented the protest from reaching Lal Chowk. This incident marks yet another political flashpoint in Jammu & Kashmir, where citizens’ frustrations over daily hardships are…
Read MorePoison in the Orchard: How Pesticides Are Fueling Kashmir’s Silent Cancer Epidemic
Poison in the Orchard: How Pesticides Are Fueling Kashmir’s Silent Cancer Epidemic By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 From Lush Apple Groves to Lifelong Illness Nestled amidst breathtaking Himalayan valleys, Kashmir’s apple orchards have long been a symbol of the region’s natural abundance and economic backbone. But beneath the beauty lies a hidden crisis—one that is claiming lives in silence and sending entire families to oncology wards. In what experts are calling a “toxic public health emergency”, a growing number of brain tumors and other aggressive cancers…
Read MoreAmarnath Yatra 2025 Traffic Advisory: Smooth Pilgrimage or Stressful Journey?
Amarnath Yatra 2025 Traffic Advisory: Safety First or a Journey of Disruptions? By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 The Sacred Journey Meets Practical Planning The annual Amarnath Yatra, a deeply spiritual journey for lakhs of devotees who brave the Himalayan terrain to pay obeisance at the holy cave of Lord Shiva, is not just a religious pilgrimage—it’s a massive logistical event. From medical teams and military deployment to shelter, food, and most importantly, traffic management, the smooth conduct of the yatra depends on microscopic planning. For the…
Read MoreKashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Generational Emergency Ignored by Law, Failed by Society
When Silence Becomes Complicity By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 01 July 2025 Kashmir, long portrayed as a land of spiritual serenity and natural beauty, is quietly battling a crisis that threatens to consume its future—drug abuse. Behind the snow-clad mountains and saffron fields lies a grim and growing tragedy: over 1.35 million people in Jammu and Kashmir are struggling with substance abuse, according to a 2022 study by the Government Medical College, Srinagar. Among these, heroin dominates the list of abused substances, accounting for nearly 90% of patients treated…
Read MoreA New Dawn or Political Gamble? The People’s Alliance for Change Rattles Kashmir’s Political Landscape
A Political Resurgence in Kashmir By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 01 July 2025 Jammu and Kashmir’s political theatre is witnessing a tectonic shift. In a move that could potentially alter the region’s power dynamics and revive dormant demands, three regional parties have joined hands to form the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC). This alliance is not just another pre-election arrangement—it’s a statement of intent, a political rebellion, and for many, a flicker of hope. The new coalition comprises: Sajad Lone’s Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (PC) Hakeem Yaseen’s Jammu…
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