2026 | Page 5 of 6 | Kashmir POST

‘Sold Kashmir for Power?’ AIP Vs Mehbooba Mufti and the Long Shadow of the PDP-BJP Alliance

January 8, 2026 Editor

‘Sold Kashmir for Power?’ — AIP, Mehbooba Mufti, and the Unfinished Reckoning of the PDP-BJP Alliance By: Javid Amin | 08 January 2026 More than seven years after the fall of the PDP-BJP coalition government, the political aftershocks of that experiment continue to reverberate across Jammu and Kashmir. The latest trigger is a sharp and unusually personal attack by the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, accusing her of having “sold Kashmir for power” and now attempting to justify what they describe as a historic betrayal.…

Jammu Medical College Row Explained: How SMVDIME Lost MBBS Recognition and What Comes Next

January 8, 2026 Editor

Jammu Medical College Row Explained: Anatomy of a Controversy That Shook the Region By: Javid Amin | 07 January 2026 On January 6, 2026, the National Medical Commission (NMC) made an unprecedented regulatory move: it revoked the Letter of Permission (LoP) previously granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, effectively withdrawing its licence to offer MBBS education for the 2025–26 academic year. The decision instantly became the centre of a major socio-political storm across the Union Territory and national…

Over 1.3 Million People Affected by Drug Abuse in Jammu & Kashmir: A Deepening Crisis Threatening Youth, Security, and Social Stability

January 8, 2026 Editor

Drug Abuse Crisis in Jammu & Kashmir: Over 1.3 Million Affected as Heroin Use and Youth Addiction Surge By: Javid Amin | 07 January 2026 A Grim Milestone: Drug Abuse Reaches Alarming Levels in Jammu & Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir is confronting one of the most severe social and public health crises in its recent history, with over 1.3 million people now affected by drug abuse, according to official estimates. The figure represents a dramatic rise from approximately 600,000 cases just three years ago, underscoring the speed and scale at…

Festive Tourism Surge Kicks Off 2026 in Jammu & Kashmir as Srinagar, Gulmarg and Vaishno Devi See Record Footfall

January 7, 2026 Editor

Festive Tourism Surge Kicks Off 2026 in Jammu & Kashmir By: Javid Amin | 06 January 2026 Jammu & Kashmir has entered 2026 on a high note, with a remarkable surge in festive tourism across the Valley and Jammu region, signalling a strong revival of the tourism-driven economy. From snow-laden Gulmarg and Sonamarg to the bustling streets of Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, and from Dal Lake shikara rides to the icy pilgrimage routes of Vaishno Devi, the New Year celebrations brought unprecedented footfall and energy to the region. Crowded Destinations, Festive…

NMC Withdraws Recognition of Vaishno Devi Medical College MBBS Course: Regulation, Religion, and the Future of Medical Education in J&K

January 7, 2026 Editor

National Medical Commission Cancels MBBS Approval for Vaishno Devi Medical College After Admission Controversy in J&K By: Javid Amin | 06 January 2026 When Medical Admissions Turn Political Medical admissions in India are normally governed by marks, merit lists, and regulation. But sometimes, they become lightning-rods for political and social tension. That is precisely what happened in Jammu & Kashmir when Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence — a new medical college — admitted its first MBBS batch for 2025–26. Out of 50 seats, 42 candidates were Muslims,…

VPN Crackdown in Jammu & Kashmir: 800 Users Booked, Two-Month Ban Sparks Debate Over Security and Digital Freedom

January 6, 2026 Editor

VPN Crackdown in Jammu & Kashmir: 800 Users Identified, Blanket Ban Sparks Privacy Debate By: Javid Amin | 05 January 2025 A New Digital Flashpoint in Kashmir In a move that has reignited long-standing debates over internet regulation, digital rights, and state security, authorities in Jammu & Kashmir have intensified a crackdown on unauthorized Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage, identifying approximately 800 users across the Valley, registering FIRs, and imposing a two-month blanket ban under emergency prohibitory orders. The administration has justified the decision on grounds of cyber security, public…

Nepotism in Kashmir: How 2nd and 3rd Generation Political Dynasties Shape Power and Public Trust

January 6, 2026 Editor

Nepotism in Kashmir Politics: Impact of 2nd & 3rd Generation Dynasties | Public Trust & Power Dynamics By: Javid Amin | 05 January 2025 When Politics Becomes Inheritance In Jammu and Kashmir, politics is not simply a career path — it is often an extension of family heritage. Over decades, 2nd- and 3rd-generation leaders have consolidated influence across party structures and electoral landscapes. For many ordinary Kashmiris, this has created a perception that access to power is inherited rather than earned. While dynastic continuity is defended by some as stability…

Major AGMUT Cadre Reshuffle: 31 IAS, 18 IPS Officers Transferred; Syed Abid Rashid Shah Moved Out of Jammu & Kashmir

January 5, 2026 Editor

Major AGMUT Cadre Reshuffle: 31 IAS, 18 IPS Officers Transferred as Centre Rejigs Administration By: Javid Amin | 04 January 2025 In one of the most significant bureaucratic reshuffles in recent months, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered the transfer of 31 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and 18 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across the AGMUT cadre, impacting Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and several Northeastern states. Among the most notable changes, Syed Abid Rashid Shah, who was serving as Secretary, Health…

Uninsulated Meat Consignment Seized in Jammu: A Wake-Up Call on Food Safety, Public Health, and Regulatory Enforcement

January 3, 2026 Editor

Uninsulated Meat Consignment Seized in Jammu Raises Serious Public Health Concerns By: Javid Amin | 03 January 2026 When Food Safety Fails on the Road: The Jammu Meat Seizure Explained Jammu, long regarded as a critical gateway for food supplies entering the Kashmir Valley and surrounding regions, witnessed a significant food safety intervention this week when Jammu Police seized an uninsulated meat consignment during a routine vehicle inspection. What might appear to be a routine enforcement action carries far deeper implications for public health, consumer safety, and regulatory compliance in…

Beliefs Unchanged: Why Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Removed ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ from His X Bio — And What It Means for Kashmir’s Politics

January 3, 2026January 3, 2026 Editor

Beliefs Unchanged: Mirwaiz’s Silent Edit on X and the Shifting Ground Beneath Kashmir’s Separatist Politics By: Javid Amin | 02 January 2026 A Quiet Edit That Loudly Echoed Across Kashmir In the evolving political landscape of Kashmir, symbolism often carries as much weight as policy. This truth resurfaced recently when Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, one of the Valley’s most influential religious-political leaders, quietly removed the designation “Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference” from his X (formerly Twitter) profile. No statement was issued at first. No dramatic declaration followed. But the silence was…