Situated in the northern part of the country and sharing its international border with Pakistan and China, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has largely been known as the area of conflict between various parties, each wanting to assert its dominance and control over the region.
Jammu and Kashmir was one among the many princely States of India which were present during the time when India got its freedom from over 200 years of British rule. It was given a chance to either join India or newly formed Pakistan or exist as an independent individual state. Maharaja Hari Singh, the last regent of the state when faced with a Pakistan backed rebellion decided to join the Indian side and as a result, Jammu and Kashmir officially became a part of India in the year 1954.
Bestowed with the title of ‘heaven on earth’ by Mughal emperor Jahangir, the valley of Jammu and Kashmir is filled with scenic beauty and a variety of flora and fauna. The famous Dal Lake and Saffron and Apple farms, various valleys such as Chenab and liddar as well as various pilgrim sites like Vaishno Devi and Amarnath Temple make the state full of diverse natural resources.
As the place is strategically important for controlling the Northern Valley region, the state has also been the cause of four armed conflicts between India and Pakistan,the last one being at Kargil in 1999. More recently the state was in news after Article 370, which was used for providing special status to the state was revoked in October of 2019 and the state was reorganised as two separate union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview on the Chakra View podcast with Gaurav, former Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Satish Dua detailed the operational sequence of the 2016 Uri terror attack and India's subsequent cross-Line of Control surgical strikes.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed intense uproar and sloganeering after the National Conference moved a resolution seeking the restoration of statehood from the Government of India. The move sparked sharp protests from Bharatiya Janata Party legislators over references to an earlier autonomy resolution from 2000. BJP MLAs entered the well of the House, raised objections, and tore copies of the resolution, forcing an adjournment. Speaking on the floor protests, National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq dismissed allegations that the resolution was anti-national or deliberately provocative. Sadiq clarified that the fresh draft does not supersede previous resolutions but specifically urges the restoration of statehood. He urged opposition members to participate in a democratic debate inside the Assembly rather than disrupt proceedings. Sadiq further asserted that the BJP's opposition reveals their reluctance to support statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress workers staged protests across several states on Friday, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the political row over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Unruly scenes unfolded in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs protested against the mention of the 2000 autonomy resolution in the statehood restoration resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. BJP legislators tore copies of the resolution, stepped onto tables, and attempted to enter the well while shouting slogans against the ruling National Conference. While the Bharatiya Janata Party supports statehood restoration, the party objected strongly to the inclusion of autonomy, accusing the ruling party of attempting to gain political points at the expense of national interest. Assembly marshals intervened to stop protesting legislators as commotion continued on the floor.
India delivered a sharp rebuke to Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council, rejecting Islamabad's stance as historical revisionism, invented statistics, and sectarian insinuation. Addressing the council, the Indian representative reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India, calling on Pakistan to vacate the territories under its illegal foreign occupation. Highlighting cross-border terrorism, the statement pointed out that Pakistan-backed terrorists drove Kashmiri Pandits out in 1990. India also criticised Pakistan for persecuting its own minorities, urging it to focus on economic development rather than council theatrics and exporting terror.
A ground report from Kashmir's world-famous Betaab Valley in Pahalgam highlights growing concerns over unchecked concretisation and flawed development models threatening the region's fragile ecology. Once renowned for pristine meadows, natural streams, and lush grasslands featured extensively in Bollywood cinema, the valley now witnesses extensive construction activity, including artificial island parks, heavy concrete slabs, and iron railings. The report underscores how such thoughtless infrastructure projects and government spending disrupt natural landscapes that should ideally remain virgin and eco-preserved. Both local residents and visiting tourists have expressed disappointment over replacing natural beauty with concrete structures. The report urges administrative authorities and senior officials to intervene, reconsider unnecessary civil works, and adopt sustainable preservation practices to safeguard Kashmir's natural heritage.
Commotion continued in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for the second consecutive day as Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs staged a walkout after the Speaker disallowed their request for a debate on corruption and unfulfilled commitments of the Omar Abdullah administration. Heated exchanges broke out between BJP and Congress legislators inside the House, prompting the deployment of assembly marshals. The opposition demanded discussions regarding issues concerning daily wagers, contractual workers, reservation, and power tariffs. In addition, disagreements emerged over the restoration of the official holiday commemorating Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary, which was opposed by the BJP as proceedings remained disrupted.
The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Srinagar began on a stormy note, witnessing protests and commotion inside the House. Bharatiya Janata Party legislators staged protests against the Omar Abdullah-led government over a recent power tariff hike, regularisation of contractual staff, including National Health Mission workers, and hiring through outsourcing agencies. Protesting members displayed placards and demanded rollbacks and government accountability. Security marshals were stationed inside the assembly as tensions escalated during the obituary reference and question hour. Outside the assembly, Apni Party members held demonstrations demanding clarity on reservation policies and pending administrative files. National Conference MLAs defended the government as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended the proceedings amid persistent sloganeering from opposition members representing various parties on governance and public welfare issues.
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir averted a major attack after detecting an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted under a bridge near Zainapora in Shopian. Discovered by a road opening party around 4:00 PM, the explosive was suspected to target security convoys, including Army, CRPF, and police vehicles. Joint security forces cordoned off the area, halted civilian traffic, and summoned the Bomb Disposal Squad, which safely destroyed the device via a controlled explosion. A cordon and search operation is underway in neighbouring areas to trace the perpetrators.
A speaker delivered a detailed critique of political history, recounting key moments involving leadership transitions, government dismissals, and party alliances across several decades. The address cited the 1969 presidential election controversy involving Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and Indira Gandhi, followed by later coalition developments involving leaders like Chaudhary Charan Singh, Chandra Shekhar, H.D. Deve Gowda, and I.K. Gujral. The speaker also highlighted historical milestones, including the landmark 1994 Supreme Court ruling in the S.R. Bommai case regarding floor tests, the 1993 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case, and the dissolution of various state assemblies over the years. Concluding the address, the speaker referenced regional leadership shifts in states including Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.
Two terrorists were killed in a major encounter operation in the Sohan area of Majilta in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following intelligence inputs regarding the suspicious movement of individuals in the region. The engagement started overnight after forces tracked down terrorist movements under a heightened counter-terror grid. While two terrorists have been neutralized, search operations continue in the area as authorities monitor for any further movement.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti network a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the decision, stating the syndicate was recruited by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence to smuggle arms, explosives, and narcotics, incite youth, and publish hateful digital content. Investigations revealed that Shehzad Bhatti operated out of the United Arab Emirates as a social media influencer, paying local recruits to photograph military installations, railway stations, and convoys moving towards Jammu and Kashmir, besides orchestrating low-intensity attacks. Raids across 14 states led to multiple detentions. Operating under the banner of Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan to mask Pakistani involvement, the network aimed to destabilise Punjab ahead of elections by targeting police personnel, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionaries, and political leaders. The ban enables India to coordinate with Gulf nations and international bodies to choke the syndicate's financial, hawala, and operational networks across West Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking Xi Jinping's first visit to India in seven years.
A Scorpio vehicle was seized in Sonamarg after a group of youths attempted a dangerous stunt by driving through the fast-flowing Sindh River.
A major political debate has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the recital of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram. National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stood for the full national song at an event in Srinagar following parliamentary approval.
The National Investigation Agency has filed a chargesheet naming thirteen accused in connection with the 10 November 2025 Red Fort suicide blast that claimed eleven lives. The investigation exposes a white-collar terror network linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in India, predominantly involving educated medical professionals. Suicide bomber Dr Umar Nabi carried out surveillance of the Red Fort for nearly two years starting in December 2023, choosing the landmark as a symbol of the Indian state. The group planned coordinated pan-India attacks using drones, improvised rockets, and highly volatile explosives, including triacetone triperoxide, ammonium nitrate, and potassium chlorate. Raids linked to Faridabad-based Al-Falah University resulted in the recovery of bomb-making materials, handwritten notes rejecting democracy in favour of Sharia, and step-by-step jihadist suicide bombing guides. Mobile phone records seized from arrested operative Dr Shaheen showed members posing with automatic weapons.
A television debate examined the political dispute surrounding the rendition of the national song Vande Mataram following parliamentary amendments regarding its protection. Discussions focused on the differing approaches taken by political allies, with the National Conference choosing to stand for the full six stanzas citing constitutional obligations, while the Congress maintained its traditional adherence to the two-stanza version formulated in nineteen thirty-seven. Representatives debated whether the requirement to sing the complete version constitutes an enforced loyalty test or a legitimate constitutional duty passed by Parliament. The panel also addressed ideological consistency, historical resolutions from the pre-independence era, and broader differences within political alliances over national symbols and legislative compliance.
A political controversy has emerged over the rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram, creating differences within the opposition alliance. While National Conference leaders in Jammu and Kashmir stood in attention for the full six stanzas of the song at an event in Srinagar, the Congress party reaffirmed its position of endorsing only the first two stanzas to preserve inclusive ethos. The National Conference maintained that the law passed regarding the song must be respected. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party targeted Congress over its stance, criticising the party and highlighting growing internal divisions between the alliance partners.
A political controversy has erupted between allies National Conference and Congress in Jammu and Kashmir over the rendition of Vande Mataram. Congress expressed displeasure after the full version of the national song was played at the International Film Festival inauguration in Srinagar, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah stood in respect. Congress argued that only three stanzas should be sung to maintain communal harmony. Hitting back, the National Conference stated that Parliament enacted a law regarding Vande Mataram and the entire nation must respect the national song. The National Conference urged Congress to avoid falling into the Bharatiya Janata Party's narrative trap and to focus on pressing national issues like unemployment and the economy. The party also cited instances of leaders standing for the full song during Independence Day events in Karnataka, calling the controversy unnecessary.
A political confrontation has intensified between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over the singing of the full rendition of Vande Mataram. The BJP accused the Congress of harbouring an anti-national mindset and disrespecting freedom fighters after Congress leaders reaffirmed their stance of singing only the first two stanzas to maintain communal harmony. Meanwhile, the central government has proposed legislation penalising disrespect to the national song on par with the national anthem. The issue has also exposed divisions within the opposition alliance after National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stood for all six verses played at an event in Srinagar following new guidelines. Congress leader K. C. Venugopal stated that the full version sits uneasily with India's pluralist ethos, urging allies to adhere only to the version adopted during the freedom movement, while the BJP criticised the Congress for opposing the original version of the national song.
