Opinion

Never Forget, Never Forgive, Never Again

14/10/2026
By Kuldeep Raina A Note on the Global Jihad, the Genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, and the Lessons for Our Future : I. The Genocide of 1990 The Kashmiri Pandits , the original inhabitants of the Kashmir Valley, with a civilizational presence stretching back thousands of years, were driven out of their homeland in 1990. It began with the targeted killings of prominent community members, hit lists pasted on doors, and threatening slogans blared from mosques. Within months, nearly ...

Student Protests in France

09/10/2026
Asad Mirza France’s widespread student protests, sparked by underfunded schools and broader austerity concerns, have escalated into national demonstrations and safety debates. As domestic unrest grows, external political commentary-notably inflammatory claims attributing the movement to mass migration and Islam-has shifted focus away from core educational grievances, complicating the debate over public policy and evidence-based governance. France’s student protests began with ...

Britain’s Brexit Reckoning

02/10/2026
Asad Mirza Britain’s Brexit debate has re-entered political centre stage after Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged ministers to examine every future relationship with the European Union, including eventual membership. His intervention challenges years of political orthodoxy, revives arguments over economic costs, and offers Labour a strategic opportunity and a potentially dangerous electoral gamble. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s latest intervention marks the most consequ...

Panun Kashmir: The Unaddressed National Imperative

29/09/2026
By Kuldeep Raina For nearly four decades, the greatest human tragedy of the subcontinent has remained unaddressed. The continued genocide, forced exodus and persecution of the indigenous people of the Kashmir Valley, the Kashmiri Pandits, has been put under the carpet by successive governments. This has happened in a country that prides itself on being the largest democracy and a sovereign, socialist, secular republic. The question is fundamental: how can a nation ignore its own ...

Beyond the Crown: The Forgotten People Who Shaped the Delhi Sultanate

28/09/2026
By Afreen Jan About the Author: Afreen Jan is a postgraduate student of History at the University of Kashmir, with interests in archaeology, art and architecture, and the history of Kashmir. When we remember medieval kingdoms, our attention often turns to their rulers, their victories, and the monuments that have survived the passage of time. Yet, history is never made by kings alone. Behind the authority of a throne are countless individuals whose lives, ambitions, and struggle...

Trump-Xi Truce Tests India’s Strategy

26/09/2026
Asad Mirza The Trump-Xi meeting produced pageantry and tactical calm, but its deeper message was harder: Washington and Beijing are managing rivalry across trade, artificial intelligence, Iran, Taiwan and energy without resolving the strategic contest reshaping India’s choices and America’s Indo-Pacific partnership increasingly unevenly today. The White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was less a breakthrough than a negotiated pause...

Statehood Cannot Become a Substitute for Justice to Kashmiri Pandit Victims

25/09/2026
Mr. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, J&K, You said in the Assembly today: “Not half statehood. Not curtailed statehood. Not statehood stripped of essential powers.” The Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), representing the voice of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, asks you a simple but fundamental question: Where was this same urgency when Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of their ancestral homeland, their homes and properties were abandoned, their temples and cultural institut...

Pakistan Betrayed Saudi Arabia

20/09/2026
By Fatima Baloch Pakistan has long been fooling Saudi Arabia and many other Arab countries by offering them security and promising to wage their wars against any aggression they face, while in return Pakistan obtains huge financial, economic and military assistance from these Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. The ongoing Israel–Palestine war started on 7 October 2023. The conflict quickly expanded beyond Gaza: Hezbollah opened a front against Israel from Leban...

US’s Russia Sanctions Threatens India Unduly

19/09/2026
Asad Mirza India’s warning over Washington’s Russia sanctions law is more than a tariff dispute. It is a defence of strategic autonomy, energy security, and the right to conduct foreign policy without extraterritorial coercion. China’s guarded response shows a larger contest: who sets Asia’s economic choices as war, trade, and oil converge. The United States has moved closer to turning its Russia policy into a broad instrument of economic coercion. The US House of Representatives...

Karm Kanda as the mechanism through which collective memory sustains Panun Kashmir

19/09/2026
By Kuldeep Raina FROM BALIDAN TO SANKALP: Spirituality, Karm Kanda and the Sustenance of Panun Kashmir Exile as Tapasya Memory as Sanskar Sankalp as Dharma A political movement may be born from circumstances, but it survives only when its purpose becomes part of the collective consciousness of its people. This is the deeper significance of Panun Kashmir. The movement emerged from the rupture of 1990, but its continuity cannot depend solely upon those who witnessed t...

BRICS 2026: India’s Deft Diplomatic Handling

14/09/2026
Asad Mirza At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India converted convening power into diplomatic leverage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagements with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, emerging Iran-UAE contacts, renewed peace language and calls for a more representative United Nations together revealed New Delhi’s central advantage: strategic autonomy with practical influence. India’s most important achievement at BRICS 2026 was not a single agreement but the creation of diplom...

Beyond the Great Cities: The Human Story of Harappan Settlements

12/09/2026
By Afreen Jan When we think of the Harappan Civilization, our imagination often stops at the imposing ruins of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. We picture straight streets, brick houses, seals, pottery, drainage systems and a mysterious script that has remained beyond our complete understanding. These remarkable cities have become symbols of the sophistication of one of the earliest urban traditions of South Asia. Yet there is another side of the Harappan story that deserves equal attenti...

Setting the Agenda: India’s Leadership at the 18th BRICS Summit

11/09/2026
Asad Mirza As Xi and Putin land in Delhi for BRICS 2026, India juggles a China thaw, a Russia bear-hug, an Egypt embrace, a Congress civil war over “tangible benefits”, and a Middle East on fire - all under one roof at Bharat Mandapam. New Delhi is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at a combustible moment - Xi Jinping’s first India visit in seven years, Putin’s fresh arrival, a Congress spat over BRICS’s worth, and an unresolved Iran war threatening the joint declaration PM Modi despera...

The Makkah Pact: A New Fault Line in Global Power Politics

09/09/2026
Asad Mirza As world leaders converge on New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, one geopolitical development is quietly shadowing the proceedings: the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the trilateral security pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan on August 7, 2026. With speculation swirling about which countries might join next - and what it means for India - the Kremlin has weighed in with a message of caution: don’t read too much into it yet. Speaking to Indian media in N...

IFFJK 2026: Kashmir Writes a New Story of Peace, Cinema and Hope

07/09/2026
By Farooq Ganderbali The 1st International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 is a proud and historic moment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Beginning in Srinagar, the festival brings together filmmakers, cinematographers, producers, curators and cinema professionals from India and abroad, giving Kashmir an important platform on the global cultural map. For Kashmir, this is not merely a celebration of cinema. It is also a celebration of peace, normalcy, tour...

Jhelum is calling: What are we leaving behind for our future?

06/09/2026
By Afreen Jan Today, I sat on the banks of the Jhelum, and for a few moments I simply watched the water flowing in front of me. The Jhelum has always been something we Kashmiris feel proud of. We have grown up hearing about it, seeing it, crossing its bridges and watching it quietly flow through our cities and villages. But today, instead of only seeing its beauty, I noticed something that disturbed me deeply—the garbage lying around its banks and the waste that has found its way into ...

Bending Without Breaking: The Myth of Gen Z 'Regime Change’

03/09/2026
K B Jandial At times, an authoritarian family head bends to resolve discord and protect unity and harmony. While the family views this compromise as wise, neighbours might see it as a weakening of parental authority and the beginning of family division. Regardless of perceptions, the immediate crisis is averted. A nation is no different—a larger family where state authority occasionally bends before friction escalates out of hand. This is what has happened in India recently. Prime Mi...

Terrorism Cannot Demand the Privileges of Peace

03/09/2026
By Farooq Ganderbali The latest controversy over the Indus Waters Treaty is not merely a dispute about rivers, dams or arbitration. At its heart lies a much larger question: Can a state continue to demand the benefits of international agreements while supporting, sheltering or providing space to forces accused of attacking its neighbour? India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance after the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 22, 2025, in which 26 innocent civilians...

SCO Summit: PM Modi's Central Asian Chessboard

31/08/2026
Asad Mirza Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Bishkek for the 26th SCO summit carrying momentum from Tashkent today, where India and Uzbekistan sealed a uranium deal and a strategic upgrade. Between countering terrorism, courting Central Asia's resources and outflanking China, the summit will test how far India's Eurasian ambitions can travel. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was founded in 2001, evolving out of the "Shanghai Five" security dialogue among China, ...

Built, Burnt and Reborn: The Story of Jamia Masjid Srinagar

26/08/2026
By Afreen Jan In the historic heart of Srinagar, in the old city area of Nowhatta, stands Jamia Masjid, one of Kashmir’s most important religious and architectural landmarks. The mosque has been an important part of Srinagar’s cultural landscape for centuries, and its traditional wooden architecture, spacious courtyard, sloping roofs and four distinctive towers give it a unique Kashmiri character. Jamia Masjid was built during the reign of Sultan Sikandar, a ruler of the Shah Mi...

Managed Pluralism: Tokayev’s Constitutional Gamble in Kazakhstan

24/08/2026
Asad Mirza Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s ongoing political reset in Kazakhstan, represents a calculated effort, to restructure state power under the narrative of progressive constitutional reform. Following sweeping amendments to the country's constitutional framework, the establishment of a new unicameral legislature - the Kurultai - marks a defining moment in Central Asian politics. While framed by the administration as a modernisation step to streamline governance a...

Women Empowerment: When Women Rise, Society Rises

22/08/2026
By Afreen Jan There is a simple truth that we often forget: a society cannot move forward if half of its population is held back. Women are not merely members of families; they are students, teachers, doctors, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, administrators, scientists, leaders, caregivers, and countless other things. They contribute to society in ways that are sometimes visible and sometimes unnoticed. Yet, despite their contributions, many women still have to fight for opportunities...

Bangladesh to Join Makkah Pact?

22/08/2026
Asad Mirza Bangladesh says it's "open" to joining the Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defence pact. That word choice is doing a lot of work. It's not a signature, but it's not nothing either - and for India, it confirms a drift that's been building for two years. Words matter in diplomacy, and Bangladesh's foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir chose his carefully. Asked whether Dhaka would join the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement - the pact Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed on August ...

Jammu & Kashmir: A Story of Peace, Progress and Pride in India

20/08/2026
By Farooq Ganderbali Jammu & Kashmir today presents a powerful story of transformation, hope and opportunity. While Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir continues to witness serious public grievances, Jammu & Kashmir on the Indian side is moving forward with greater connectivity, development, tourism, education, healthcare, sports and economic opportunities. The people of Jammu & Kashmir are increasingly confident about their future and proud of their association with India. Across J...

Hormuz in the Balance: Trump's Territorial Bravado

19/08/2026
Asad Mirza Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz "New US Territory" via an AI-generated map, insisting it's open and mine-free. Iran mocked the claim, comparing it to annexing California, and vowed the strait stays shut until Washington lifts its blockade and sanctions. Behind the bravado: a 33% approval rating and a global oil market on edge. Nearly six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has become less a shipping lane than a rhetorical battlefield. This week...

Independence Day: Freedom, Memory, Unfinished Responsibility

16/08/2026
By Kuldeep Raina Independence Day serves as a solemn reminder of the freedom earned through the immense sacrifice, courage, and devotion of countless men and women. We bow in gratitude to all those brave souls who gave their today so that India could breathe freely tomorrow. We celebrate with pride the freedom of our nation. Yet, beneath that celebration, there remains a quiet anguish in the hearts of many Indians, a question that conscience cannot simply silence. Can the joy of fr...

Three Flags, One Shield: Inside the Makkah Pact, Reshaping the Middle East

08/08/2026
Asad Mirza On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, an "Islamic NATO"-style mutual-defence pact, in Islam's holiest city rather than any capital. Born from doubts about US protection after Iranian strikes went unanswered, and Yemen's collapsing truce, the deal reshapes regional alignments - unsettling Iran, unnerving Israel, and drawing wary attention from India amid a related disinformation flare-up. On August 7, in the holy cit...

POJK cannot ignore the lessons of History

04/08/2026
By Fatima Baloch THE CURRENT CRISIS IN POJK Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) has been engulfed in unrest for several weeks. Peaceful Kashmiri protesters have reportedly been met with AK-47 bullets instead of water cannons, batons, and tear gas, which are generally used in the civilized world to control public demonstrations. The protests have continued for more than 45 days with no sign of abating., Pakistan has continued its crackdown on Kashmiri protesters, resulting...

Latest "Historic" Gaza Disarmament Deal As Envisioned By Trump

01/08/2026
Asad Mirza Donald Trump has declared a "historic" deal for Hamas to fully disarm in Gaza, brokered by his Board of Peace. But Netanyahu calls it inadequate, Hamas ties disarmament to a full Israeli pullout, and Washington simultaneously readies fresh strikes on Iran - exposing how unsettled the region truly remains. On the night of July 30, 2026, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social with characteristic bravado. "Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the C...

Baloch Gen Z and Indian Gen Z: A Comparison

29/07/2026
By Fatima Baloch Following the success of the Indian student- and Gen Z-led protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar on 25 July 2026, many Baloch commentators argued that Indian Gen Z appeared to be more politically influential than Baloch Gen Z. However, an examination of the history of the Baloch student movement presents a different perspective. From this viewpoint, despite deprivation, a lack of basic facilities, and living under occupation, Baloch yo...