Present-day Gowkadal, Srinagar. Photo: Ahsaan Ali. — Present-day Gowkadal, Srinagar. Photo: Ahsaan Ali. We spoke with Farooq Ahmed Wani, the sole survivor of the brutal Gowkadal Massacre in which 53 Kashmiris were fired upon and killed by India’s armed forces. T/w: torture, graphic content, and violence. On January 20, 1990, Indian army troops barged into several homes…

In Kashmir, the UAPA is being used to stifle all forms of dissent and expression of the people against the ongoing occupation and settler… — In Kashmir, the UAPA is being used to stifle all forms of dissent and expression of the people against the ongoing occupation and settler colonization. India is expanding the definition of “terrorism” to include all forms of not just legitimate armed resistance to colonial rule, but also non-violent expression. This further endangers Kashmiri civil society and rights defenders.

After serving years in the Indian army, commanding forces in Kashmir, and installing draconian policies in Kashmir, Indian defense chief… — After serving years in the Indian army, commanding forces in Kashmir, and installing draconian policies in Kashmir, Indian defense chief Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash on December 8, 2021. Who was Bipin Rawat? Rawat, who hailed from the Indian state of Uttarakhand, made a career out of killing and terrorizing Kashmiris. In fact, he comes from a military family where several generations served in the Indian army. When it came to Kashmir, he was known for his vocal and genocidal statements about Kashmiris…

It is with immense sadness and a profound sense of loss that we mourn the passing of Syed Ali Shah Geelani (1929–2021), a beloved… — It is with immense sadness and a profound sense of loss that we mourn the passing of Syed Ali Shah Geelani (1929–2021), a beloved resistance leader of Kashmir, who for decades stood like a firm rock in the face of India’s illegitimate and repressive occupation of Jammu & Kashmir.

India is currently planning a 6-day “Tulip Festival” for Indian tourists to visit Kashmir, “familiarize themselves with its rich culture… — India is currently planning a 6-day “Tulip Festival” for Indian tourists to visit Kashmir, “familiarize themselves with its rich culture and traditions,” while Kashmiris remain silenced, caged, and repressed. As thousands and thousands of Indian tourists arrive in Kashmir, in the midst of a pandemic, the cases locally are increasing…

On January 6, 2021, Hong Kong police, acting for the Chinese government, arrested at least 53 pro-democracy Hongkongers for the alleged… — On January 6, 2021, Hong Kong police, acting for the Chinese government, arrested at least 53 pro-democracy Hongkongers for the alleged crime of “subversion.” These arrests were pursuant to “national security” legislation which was imposed by fiat on Hong Kong by the Chinese government. Those arrested were accused of organizing…

Budgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir — Budgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir At 108, Zooni Begum is the oldest person in her village of Zilsidora, Jabbad, hidden in the vast jungle of central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Once the bumpy road ends, visitors must trek by foot another four kilometers to the village. Tall pine trees and snowy mounts dot…

Srinagar, Indian-occupied Kashmir — Srinagar, Indian-occupied Kashmir A recent advertisement in a local Kashmiri newspaper left readers shocked: A young man was selling his kidneys. Sabzar Ahmad Khan, 28, a resident of Nussu village in the Qazigund area of southern Indian-occupied Kashmir, faces a 90 lakh-rupee debt (about $120,000 USD). Khan’s business suffered from…

Pahalgam, Indian Occupied Kashmir — Pahalgam, Indian Occupied Kashmir Tucked in the forests of the tourist hill station of Pahalgam, a few hours southeast of Kashmir’s capital, lies the village of Wangidaru-Lidoora. For decades, Abdul Aziz Khatana and his nomadic ancestors have called this picturesque place home. Except now, his home is gone. At the end of a curving…