By Ajaz Rashid One year after Omar Abdullah took office as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the region stands at a crossroads—caught between hope and disappointment, progress and paralysis, promises and reality. The expectations from his National Conference-led government were immense, and the political climate in October 2024 seemed primed for a new beginning. […]
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The Cost of Care
By Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili Healthcare is one of the most fundamental human needs, a cornerstone of dignity and survival. In India, however, the question is no longer whether treatment is available, but whether it is accessible, affordable, and safe. The rise of private healthcare has undoubtedly transformed the country’s medical landscape—gleaming hospitals, sophisticated technology, […]
J&K’s Journey from Turmoil to Development
By Ajaz Rashid Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday painted a picture of a transforming Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that terrorism in the region is “on its last legs” and describing the ecosystem of subversive and anti-national elements as being in the “ICU” (Intensive Care Unit). Addressing multiple gatherings across Srinagar, including an event with […]
Six Years, One New Kashmir
By Chasfeeda Shah In Kashmir valleys where once the sounds of unrest echoed, a different kind of energy now buzzes through the air. It’s the energy of entrepreneurship, innovation, and dreams being turned into digital reality. Six years after the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as an unlikely startup success story, […]
Highway Closure Chokes Kashmir’s Orchard Economy
By Ajaz Rashid Every September, the orchards of Kashmir burst into their most important season. Red Delicious and Gala apples hang heavy on the branches, ready to be plucked, packed, and shipped to markets across India. For lakhs of families in the Valley, this is not just a harvest—it is the payoff for months of […]
Rains That Stilled the Mountains
By Chasfeeda Shah The last week of August 2025 has left Jammu and Kashmir battered by relentless rain, triggering a cascade of landslides that transformed daily life, paralyzed crucial infrastructure, and created unprecedented challenges for authorities and residents alike. The once bustling roads now stand silent under the weight of water and debris, schools sit […]
Kashmir Battles August’s Monsoon Deluge
By Ajaz Rashid The recent floods in Jammu and Kashmir have written a new chapter of devastation in the region’s long battle with the monsoon, inflicting loss, sorrow, and profound questions about preparedness in a changing climate. The deluges—fed by relentless rain, bursting rivers, and sudden cloudbursts—have left communities battered, rescues ongoing, and survivors clinging […]
SDRF: Kashmir’s First Line of Defense Against Nature’s Fury
By Ajaz Rashid In August 2025, when torrential rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir, turning streets into rivers and mountain slopes into sliding walls of mud, one force stood between chaos and catastrophe—the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). With inflatable boats, life jackets, ropes, and sheer grit, these men and women became the lifeline of thousands […]
Khelo India Rides the Waves
By Ajaz Rashid Srinagar: The calm, glistening waters of Dal Lake witnessed a rare transformation this week. For three days, from August 21 to 23, the lake—long celebrated for its shikaras, floating gardens and poetic reflection of the Zabarwan hills—turned into a sporting arena where adrenaline and elegance met rippling waves. The Khelo India Water […]
Fury in the Himalayas
By Ajaz Rashid Jammu and Kashmir, cradled in the lap of the Himalayas, has always been a land of beauty and fragility. But in August 2025, nature’s fury struck twice in quick succession—a pair of devastating cloudbursts unleashed tragedy on Kishtwar and Kathua districts, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and haunting questions about the […]