#breakthesilence Archives

Umar Farooq’s Surprise Delhi Trip Triggers Curiosity in Kashmir and Capital

January 11, 2024January 11, 2024 Editor

A Whisper of Diplomacy: Kashmir Leader’s Delhi Visit Stirs Hope Amid Lingering Uncertainty Srinagar: In the winter chill of Kashmir, an unexpected thaw has sent a ripple of speculation through the valley and the corridors of power in Delhi. The surprise visit of Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), after three years of travel restrictions, has ignited a flicker of hope in the long-simmering conflict. Farooq’s enigmatic trip, shrouded in secrecy but marked by meetings with unnamed officials, has left observers scrambling…

Amid Article 370 Debate, China Renews Assertions of Historical Rights in Ladakh Region

December 15, 2023 Editor

China has said that it doesn’t recognise the Indian Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld the Narendra Modi government’s decision to carve out a separate Union Territory for Ladakh from erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. This is the second consecutive time that China has reacted to the Indian apex court’s verdict backing the Union government’s move to repeal Article 370 and strip the Himalayan state of its special autonomy and other privileges. ‘China never recognised Ladakh’ In a press briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that the verdict…

Kashmir’s Political Landscape Under Scrutiny: PDP Highlights Discrepancies Between Government and Occupation

December 15, 2023 Editor

“A government strives to empower and enrich, whereas an occupation’s aim is to disempower, dispossess, and exploit.” The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a strongly worded statement in its monthly newsletter, saying that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly being treated as occupied rather than as citizens. Specifically, the party has stated that people are grieving over the Supreme Court’s recent 370 verdict and reeling from lengthy powercuts but with the discovery of lithium reserves in Kashmir, “a feeling of doom has gripped the region”. “As Indian…

Hope Lost, Lives Stolen: 78 Suicides in J&K Raise Urgent Questions

December 6, 2023 Editor

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Tuesday said that around 78 persons committed suicide in Jammu and Kashmir from 2020 to 2022 by youth due to unemployment. The Minister of State (MoS) in the MHA Nityanand Rai was replying to a query raised by Member Parliament Vijayakumar who had raised a query that whether the issue of unemployment was the main cause of youth taking extreme steps of suicide in the country. The MP also sought to know whether there had been a spurt in the number of suicides…

Kashmir’s Youth in Crisis: The Need for Suicide Prevention

September 11, 2023 Editor

By: Nawaz Manzoor Malik Suicide is a global concern, and its impact is far and wide, affecting individuals, families, and entire communities. In Kashmir, the menace of suicide has been exacerbated by decades of conflict, political turmoil, and a unique cultural context. Trying to explore the latest information and initiatives surrounding suicide prevention in Kashmir, shedding light on the challenges faced and the glimmers of hope that are emerging. As per the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report, suicide has claimed the maximum number of lives in Kashmir after terrorism.…