Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised alarm over the rapid deterioration of Hokersar Lake in Srinagar and Budgam districts, warning that its “pristine glory” is at risk of extinction. The audit found that over 2,528 kanals of the lake area have been encroached upon for construction, plantations, and farming. Authorities failed to evict encroachers despite issuing notices. The report highlights a lack of proper survey, demarcation, and a comprehensive conservation plan. Between 2014 and 2020, open water area decreased by 7%, while scrub area surged by over 1,100%, and aquatic vegetation increased by 42%—largely due to pollution, untreated sewage,…
Author: KO Web Desk
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Thursday stated that achieving genuine peace in Jammu and Kashmir requires the Centre to prioritize winning over the public’s sentiment. Speaking in Baramulla, she emphasized that real prosperity cannot be achieved without the Centre making efforts to gain people’s trust and engaging in dialogue. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister expressed optimism that the Central government would soon recognize that dialogue is the only viable path forward. She argued that while force, through the deployment of the Army everywhere or the imposition of laws like AFSPA, PSA, and UAPA, can suppress people, it cannot win…
Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to visit Washington after his Iran trip, as diplomatic efforts to revive US-Iran talks continue. However, his meeting with US President Donald Trump is not confirmed. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 for talks with the Iranian leadership to resolve the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. The United States, meanwhile, has tightened its naval blockade on Iranian ports, claiming it has “completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea”, prompting a sharp warning from Tehran that it could block shipping…
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has landed in Iran as part of a delegation to hold high-level talks on the resumption of talks between Iran and the US. The delegation as per the media reports, is bringing a message from Washington to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and we know that it has been received. It is also working very hard to coordinate the next round of talks here in Islamabad. According to Iranian state media, the delegation is carrying a specific new message from the United States intended to outline a framework for a second round of high-level…
In a significant move to ease transportation of goods from Kashmir Valley, Northern Railway’s Jammu Division has announced the operation of a dedicated parcel train service between Budgam and Delhi from April 17 to May 31. The service, named “Joint Parcel Product – Rapid Cargo Service” (JPP-RCS) will run between Adarsh Nagar, Delhi and Budgam, primarily aimed at benefiting fruit growers, traders and handicraft dealers. Officials informed that the train from Budgam will depart at 6:15 AM and reach Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, at 5:00 AM the following day. On its return journey, the train will leave Delhi at 5:00 AM…
National Conference President and former J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that wars only lead to destruction and urged neighbouring countries to understand that lasting peace is the only way forward. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the renovated War Memorial at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment at Rangreth here, Dr Farooq, recalled his childhood memories following early conflicts in the region. “When I was a child, after the attack, the militia was formed. The militia commander was Brigadier Balamoria. I remember that time,” he said. Dr Farooq said the militia later transformed into…
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today said that the government is prioritising employment generation, having referred nearly 30,000 posts and facilitated recruitment of around 15,000 through various agencies over the past year in Jammu and Kashmir. The Deputy Chief Minister informed this while addressing a large public gathering at Kunzar in the Gulmarg constituency. He was accompanied by Advisor to Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Peerzada Farooq Ahmad Shah and senior officers. Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment towards creating sustainable employment opportunities for the youth. He emphasized that thousands of vacancies have…
At least 250 people, among them Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea while en route to Malaysia, according to the United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies. Details remain unclear, but Bangladesh Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Com. Sabbir Alam Suzan told the Associated Press on Wednesday that nine individuals, three Rohingya and six Bangladeshis, were rescued on April 9. Suzan noted that the Bangladesh-flagged vessel M.T. Meghna Pride found the nine people adrift following the capsize and brought them to safety. As of Wednesday, it was uncertain whether any search operation was…
US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran is “close to over,” despite a lack of progress in negotiations with Tehran aimed at fully resolving hostilities in West Asia. During an interview with Fox News, Trump voiced optimism about the situation, even as reports emerge about a potential second round of talks following the impasse in the initial discussions held in Islamabad. “I think it’s close to over. I mean, I view it as very close to over,” Trump told Fox News. He also claimed that the U.S. holds a strong strategic advantage, adding, “If I…
China on Tuesday said its approach toward improving relations with India remains unchanged, even as it justified its decision to assign new names to several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, an issue that has triggered a sharp response from New Delhi. The remarks from Beijing came days after India rejected China’s latest attempt to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, describing it as an effort to push “baseless narratives” that cannot alter the reality on the ground. The development also comes at a time when China has announced the creation of a new administrative county in Aksai Chin, an area India regards…