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Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Prioritise civil issues over investing on war machinery: Mehbooba
Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged India and Pakistan to prioritise mitigating poverty and providing potable water, healthcare and education to their people instead of investing in war machinery. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti during a public rally on the 26th Foundation Day of the party in Srinagar. (Waseem Andrabi /HT) On 26th Foundation Day of the party, Mehbooba also called for reconciliation, dialogue & demilitarisation in Jammu & Kashmir and asked the Centre not to look at the J&K issue through the prism of security. 'What is India's foreign policy without J&K at its heart? Decades of conflict have brought only suffering . Wars end, only to be replaced by new ones. Pakistan has invested in war machinery and India once revered as the 'hathi' for its strength and wisdom, has shackled J&K with a heavy-handed approach.' Giving an example of China, the former J&K chief minister said that China's GDP shows us where India stands today. 'These are not my words but a reflection of our misplaced priorities,' she said while quoting India's external affairs minister. Mufti said that our country grapples with poverty. 'Many schools lack basic facilities like toilets and clean drinking water, yet we prioritise buying weapons and deploying more CRPF companies. How much security is enough? Militarisation cannot heal wounds. Until the Centre embraces the people of Jammu and Kashmir with empathy and addresses their genuine aspirations, no progress will be made.' PDP president in an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.'PM Modi with the mandate of 120 crore people, you have the power to rewrite the story of J&K. If India is to surpass nations like China, it must end this war-like system and take concrete steps toward reconciliation. Restore the trust of the people by engaging in a process that respects their dignity and rights.' She however criticised the Centre's approach to governance in the region and said the revocation of Article 370 has not brought peace or prosperity but has deepened alienation. 'The people of J&K are not enemies; they are citizens seeking justice and inclusion. The Centre must stop treating this region as a security problem and start addressing it as a political issue requiring dialogue and statesmanship.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
What is Operation Mahadev? Pahalgam attack mastermind killed in big security action
In a significant counter-terrorism success, the Indian security forces on Monday killed three Pakistani terrorists during an encounter in the forested Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was launched following intelligence and technical surveillance pointing to terrorist movement in the region. Security agencies recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter site.(Waseem Andrabi/HT) The encounter began around 11 am when a joint team of the 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 Para unit detected terrorist activity in the Mulnar area of Harwan. Acting swiftly, the forces engaged the terrorists in an intense firefight, resulting in the deaths of three heavily armed terrorists. Follow Operation Mahadev live updates One of the slain terrorists has been identified as Jibran, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative believed to have played a key role in the October 2023 Sonamarg Tunnel attack, which claimed seven lives, including that of a doctor. Sources also told HT that Suleiman Shah, the mastermind of Pahalgam terror attack, may have been killed in the attack. Weapons recovered Security agencies recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter site, including one M4 carbine, two AK rifles, and other war-like stores, indicating that the terrorists were well-equipped and possibly planning another major strike. According to SSP Srinagar GV Sundeep Chakravarty, all three terrorists were foreign nationals from Pakistan and were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, he said that conclusive links to the Pahalgam attack would be established only after complete identification and forensic verification. Coordinated action The operation was based on specific intelligence inputs, including a technical signal similar to the one used in the Pahalgam attack. As the gunfight unfolded, additional reinforcements, including teams from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu & Kashmir Police, were deployed to contain the area and eliminate any remaining threats. Army officials said drone surveillance was used to monitor the rugged, forested terrain, which lies close to Dachigam National Park, a region known for its challenging geography. Chinar Corp confirm success In a statement on social media platform X, the Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps confirmed the neutralisation of the terrorists: "Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues." Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) VK Birdi described the gunfight as a 'long-drawn operation,' adding that while three bodies had been recovered, further details would be shared after complete verification. Sources suggest that Operation Mahadev is part of a broader effort to dismantle sleeper cells and eliminate foreign fighters who have infiltrated into Kashmir valley with support from Pakistan-based groups like LeT.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Pahalgam attack mastermind Suleman Shah killed in Kashmir encounter: Sources
The mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, Suleman Shah, was among the three terrorists killed on Monday during an encounter in Srinagar, according to top security officials. The joint action, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was carried out by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the rugged Lidwas area near Dara, close to Dachigam National Park. The encounter began around 11 am after specific intelligence inputs indicated the presence of foreign terrorists in the region.(Waseem Andrabi/HT) The encounter began around 11 am after specific intelligence inputs indicated the presence of foreign terrorists in the region. The firefight unfolded in the dense forest terrain between the Zabarwan and Mahadev ridges, giving the operation its name. "Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues," the Army's Chinar Corps said in an official statement, adding that additional reinforcements and aerial surveillance were deployed to support ground forces. Sources said that one of the terrorists killed has been identified as Suleman Shah, the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack. Police though said that the operation is still on, and they will issue an official statement only after it ends. "It is a prolonged operation and is still continuing in which J&K police, paramilitary and army have an exchange of fire (with terrorists) in higher reaches. As per the interior reports, three bodies are being observed and seems to be neutralised. It is an ongoing operation and I would not like to divulge much at this moment. We will share details with you at an opportune time. It will take us some time for identification and all that. The (security) parties are still inside," IGP Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi told the media. Operation Mahadev Security forces had launched a massive operation to track down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead, and intelligence inputs over the past month had suggested that the terrorists might have moved towards the Dachigam area, which is around 20 km from Srinagar's city centre. The security forces, acting on an intelligence input, launched an anti-militancy operation, Operation Mahadev, in the Mulnar area of Harwan on Monday morning. Two rounds of gunshots were heard from a distance as security forces were carrying out searches of the area. Reinforcements were rushed to the area, and the combing operations intensified, which led to the elimination of the three terrorists.
Mint
21-07-2025
- General
- Mint
Dalai Lama visits Zanskar monastery in Kargil, devotees gather to seek blessings
Dalai Lama visits Zanskar monastery in Kargil, devotees gather to seek blessings | Photos 10 Photos . Updated: 21 Jul 2025, 02:40 PM IST Share Via Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama visited Zanskar around July 20 after weather delays. He was greeted by thousands at Padum and embraced by monastic and civic leaders. During a multi-day stay, he conducted teachings, blessings, and promoted unity, harmony, and spiritual renewal 1/10Dalai Lama received a grand welcome at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 2/10Dalai Lama greets devotees at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 3/10Dalai Lama enjoys a hot cup of tea at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 4/10Dalai Lama greets devotees at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 5/10Dalai Lama attends function at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 6/10Devotees perform local dance for Dalai Lama at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 7/10Dalai Lama at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 8/10Dalai Lama with monks at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 9/10Dalai Lama meets other monastic leaders at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times)
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Dry skies bring sweet surprise with boost in stone fruit produce
Even though unusually hot and dry weather in spring and summer seasons affected life across Kashmir this year, it has proved a blessing for stone fruit farmers in the Himalayan region. A farmer fills boxes with plums harvested in an orchard in the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday. (Waseem Andrabi /HT) The valley has recorded a bumper harvest of stone fruits, including plum, apricot, cherry and peach owing to hot and dry weather conditions in comparison to last year. The farmers across the Valley have been harvesting the crops for the past few weeks and most of them have been a satisfied lot. While the apricot and cherry harvest was almost on its tail end, the plum harvest is still going on. 'The production of plum was more this year as the weather conditions remained good for stone fruits. The plum is also of better quality this year than last,' said Mohammad Ashraf, a plum farmer from the outskirts of Srinagar city. He cited dry weather as the reason. 'Dry weather fetches good quantity and quality of fruit. Wet weather causes diseases including scab. March, April and May weather was dry and hence good for stone fruits,' he said, adding that he harvested some 20,000 (5kg) boxes this year as against 15,000 last year. 'The rates were also good at ₹220 to 250 per box,' he said. Most of the plum goes to outside markets including Azadpur Mandi in Delhi. In the central district of Budgam, Apricot farmer Bashir Ahmad Bhat was a happy man as he harvested 3,000 boxes of the fruit. 'I was blessed with good production of apricot this year, better than last year and I also got good rates,' he said. Bhat, however, said that some of the farmers received less rates as the fruit got infected by some diseases in a few pockets. 'The fruit cracked and also had small bumps. So the rates ranged from ₹150 to ₹450 per box depending on the quality,' he said. Most of the apricot is consumed locally. Horticulture development officer Azfar Nanda said the harvesting was still underway to arrive at any estimated production of stone fruits this year. However he said that there was an obvious increase in production. 'Tentatively, we can say that at least there will be a 7-10% increase in production than last year,' he said. Nanda said that the quality of the fruits was also good owing to better weather conditions suited for stone fruits. 'This summer, we had less rain which increased the production as well as quality. The colour as well as size was good,' he said. He said that the weather would cause problems for the farmers in March-April, which would be fruit-set time for the crops. 'Any rains at that time would negatively affect fruit-set. However, this year the weather remained favourable for the stone fruit crops,' he said. Kashmir valley witnessed heatwaves this summer right from May- first between May 18 to 27 and then from June 9 onwards - breaking decades old temperature records and severely affecting the life of the people not used to such high temperatures. The dry weather and scant rainfall caused water shortages and also affected fruit production like apples. Haji Bashir Ahmad, chairman of Kashmir Valley fruit growers cum dealers union said that the farmers are storing the stone fruits in controlled atmosphere stores for increase in shelf life owing to good production. 'Apricot crop is almost consumed locally but plum and cherry are mostly sent outside the valley. Some are now being stored in CA so that they don't get spoiled and fetch good rates in future as well,' he said.
