Tangmarg–Poonch Road: A Lifeline Alternative for Kashmir’s Fragile Highway By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025 For years, the Srinagar–Jammu national highway (NH-44) has borne the weight of connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India. But nature, terrain, and congestion often conspire against it: landslides, heavy snowfall, rockfalls, and accidents frequently force closures. In this fragile corridor, alternatives have been discussed, proposed, delayed — until recently. Enter the Tangmarg–Poonch Road — a long-awaited project, now sanctioned under the Union Defence Ministry and to be executed by the Border…
Read MoreDay: October 12, 2025
MMU Demands Ban on Meat Imports to J&K Over Halal Concerns: A Deep Dive
MMU Calls for Ban on Meat Imports to J&K Over Halal Integrity; Government Pledges Stricter Rules By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025 Religious bodies press for local sourcing amid outrage over “rotten imported meat”; government promises stricter rules, not a ban. In an assertive move, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a coalition of leading Islamic scholars and religious bodies in Jammu & Kashmir, has urged the J&K administration to ban the import of meat and poultry from outside the Union Territory. The MMU’s appeal hinges on concerns about halal compliance,…
Read MoreBudgam Bypoll 2025: A Litmus Test for Omar Abdullah’s First Year in Power
A Battle Beyond the Ballot Box By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025 The upcoming Budgam Assembly bypoll on November 11, 2025, is no ordinary electoral exercise. It carries the weight of public judgment on one year of governance under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his party. Vacated by Omar himself after retaining the Ganderbal seat, Budgam has now become the symbolic battleground for assessing the government’s political credibility, its governance model, and its connection with the people. Political observers are calling this by-election a referendum—a midterm evaluation of sorts.…
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