#JammuAndKashmir Archives

Eight Soldiers Injured in Kishtwar Encounter as Security Forces Intensify Operation

January 19, 2026January 19, 2026 Editor

Eight Soldiers Injured in Encounter With Militants in J&K’s Kishtwar By: Javid Amin | 18 January 2026 Drones, sniffer dogs deployed as security forces intensify anti-terror operation in Chenab Valley At least eight soldiers were injured in an ongoing encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Friday, as security forces launched a major counter-terror operation in the forested terrain of the Chenab Valley region, officials said. The encounter broke out during a cordon and search operation (CASO) after security forces received specific intelligence inputs about the presence…

Proposed National Law University Sparks Jammu vs Kashmir Tug of War, Deepening Regional Divide

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Editor

Proposed National Law University Triggers Jammu–Kashmir Tug of War By: Javid Amin | 14 January 2025 When a University Becomes a Political Battleground What should have been a routine announcement about expanding legal education in Jammu and Kashmir has instead turned into a flashpoint exposing deep regional anxieties. The proposal to establish the first National Law University (NLU) in the Union Territory has triggered a sharp political and emotional contest between Jammu and Kashmir, with each region seeing the location of the institution as a measure of respect, parity, and…

‘Jammu Got IIT, IIM — No Discrimination Cry From Kashmir Then’: Omar Abdullah Pushes Back on NLU Row

January 13, 2026 Editor

Omar Abdullah Says Jammu Got IIT, IIM—No Discrimination Cry Then Amid NLU Debate By: Javid Amin | 13 January 2026 How a Proposed National Law University Has Reignited Old Regional Fault Lines in Jammu & Kashmir One University, A Familiar Political Storm In Jammu and Kashmir, even the proposal of an educational institution rarely remains confined to academia. It quickly becomes a mirror reflecting deep-seated regional anxieties, political histories, and unresolved questions of balance and fairness. The latest flashpoint is the proposed National Law University (NLU) for Jammu & Kashmir.…

‘Jammu and Kashmir Are Inseparable’: Farooq Abdullah Draws a Red Line as Bifurcation Debate Resurfaces

January 13, 2026 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Are Inseparable, Says Farooq Abdullah Amid BJP Leader’s Bifurcation Demand By: Javid Amin | 12 January 2026 A Familiar Fault Line Reopens In the deeply layered politics of Jammu and Kashmir, few issues evoke as much emotion, memory, and political consequence as the question of territorial unity. When National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah declared that “Jammu and Kashmir are inseparable”, he was not merely responding to a statement by a BJP legislator. He was reaffirming a foundational political philosophy—one rooted in history,…

Cold Wave Grips Kashmir as Shopian Records –8.2°C, Snow and Rain Likely Later This Month

January 12, 2026 Editor

Cold Wave Grips Kashmir, Shopian Shivers at –8.2°C as Winter Deepens By: Javid Amin | 11 January 2026 Kashmir Slips Deeper Into Winter’s Grip Kashmir is firmly in the grip of deep winter, with a severe cold wave tightening across the Valley during Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day phase of winter. Night temperatures have plunged well below freezing in most districts, skies remain largely cloudy, and meteorologists say snow and rain are likely to build up later this month. South Kashmir’s Shopian district recorded the lowest temperature at –8.2°C, making…

Mehbooba Mufti Slams NSA Ajit Doval’s ‘Revenge for History’ Remark, Warns of Communal Fallout

January 12, 2026 Editor

Mehbooba Mufti Criticises NSA Ajit Doval’s ‘Revenge for History’ Remark, Warns of Communal Polarisation By: Javid Amin | 11 January 2026 Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday strongly criticised National Security Adviser Ajit Doval over his recent reference to “revenge for history,” warning that such rhetoric from a senior constitutional functionary could have dangerous consequences for India’s social cohesion. Mufti described the remark as a “dog whistle” that normalises communal hatred and risks inciting vulnerable sections of society against minorities.…

Winter Writes in Sub-Zero Ink as Chillai Kalan Enters Peak Phase in Kashmir

January 11, 2026 Editor

Winter Writes in Sub-Zero Ink as Chillai Kalan Peaks, Shopian Coldest at –8.2°C By: Javid Amin | 10 January 2026 Winter Tightens Its Grip as Chillai Kalan Peaks Winter continues to write its story in sub-zero ink across Kashmir. As Chillai Kalan, the coldest 40-day stretch of winter, entered its peak phase, a biting cold wave gripped the Valley on Saturday, with night temperatures remaining well below freezing across most regions, despite marginal overnight relief in a few areas. Clear skies and dry conditions have intensified radiational cooling, keeping Kashmir…

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Barred From Friday Prayers for Third Consecutive Week at Srinagar Jama Masjid

January 10, 2026 Editor

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Says He Was Barred From Friday Prayers for Third Week at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid By: Javid Amin | 09 January 2026 Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir’s chief cleric, on Friday said he was prevented for the third consecutive week from leading Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid, alleging that he was placed under house detention by authorities. According to the Mirwaiz, police vehicles and personnel were stationed outside his residence, restricting his movement and preventing him from reaching the mosque. What the Mirwaiz Has Claimed In a…

‘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.…

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…