Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Mar 4: Nearly 200 Umrah pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are stranded in Saudi Arabia following the suspension of international flights due to escalating hostilities in West Asia.
Family members and travel agents said the pilgrims, mostly from the Srinagar, Budgam, and Anantnag districts, are currently lodged in hotels in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. Their scheduled return flights to India over the past 48 hours were canceled after multiple carriers suspended operations amid airspace restrictions.
In Srinagar, families are struggling to get clarity on when their relatives will return.
Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Nowhatta said his 68-year-old mother, Fatima, is among those stranded. “She calls multiple times a day. She completed her Umrah four days ago and was supposed to come back. We have no information on when the next flight will be,” he told Kashmir Square.
A family from Dooru Anantnag said their two relatives—a married couple in their sixties—are lodged in a Jeddah hotel with nearly 50 other pilgrims from the Valley. "They said the hotel staff is cooperative, but the uncertainty is killing them. The wife told my mother, 'Hum yahan phans gaye. Dua karo jald se jald nikaal lo' (We are trapped here. Pray that we are taken out soon)," a family member said.
Another pilgrim's son from Sopore said his father, a retired government employee, is trying to keep his fellow stranded travelers calm but is himself struggling with anxiety. "He told me, 'Main yahan logon ko samjha raha hoon, lekin andar se main bhi toot raha hoon. Tum log kuch karo' (I am counseling people here, but inside I am also breaking down. You people do something)," the son said.
The delay has triggered financial worries for several families. Rouf Ahmad from Bijbehara said his brother and sister-in-law are stuck in a hotel in Medina.
“Hotel bills are accumulating. They had not planned for an extended stay. We are appealing to the government to intervene,” he said.
The Indian diplomatic missions in Jeddah and Riyadh have issued helpline numbers and said they are coordinating with tour operators and Saudi authorities.
An official at the Embassy of India stated they are in “continuous touch” with airlines to facilitate the return of Indian nationals once flight operations normalize.
Travel agents in the Valley said they are in contact with ground handlers in Saudi Arabia.
“The pilgrims are safe and accommodated. But the longer the disruption continues, the more difficult logistics will become,” said Arshid Ahmad, said a travel agent in Lal Chowk.
A senior official said that authorities have advised stranded pilgrims to remain in touch with their tour coordinators and register with the embassy helplines.
No timeline has been provided for the resumption of commercial flights. He said that from the government's end, efforts are ongoing to bring all Indian pilgrims, students, and other businessmen back home from the conflict-hit region.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed concern for students, pilgrims, and businessmen from the union territory stranded in conflict-hit Iran and other West Asian countries. He stated that he had met with their parents and was monitoring the situation.
He confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs is working to evacuate all remaining students, and efforts are also underway to bring back all stranded J&K residents from the West Asian countries.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirâs Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). âAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,â he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.âIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,â he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebâs research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. âIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,â he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. âIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,â he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,â he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. âMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,â he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. âJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.â âYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,â he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students â 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 studentsâ56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. âHundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. âThe irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,â he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
Jammu, Jan 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma Sunday said that the remarkable achievements of Jammu and Kashmirâs youth are a powerful testament to what can be accomplished through fair opportunities, modern infrastructure and unwavering government support. Addressing the gathering during the SRIJAN initiative conference, the Minister stated that the success of young athletes clearly demonstrates that with the right ecosystem in place, the UT youth are capable of overcoming every challenge and competing confidently at national and international platforms. Highlighting the core focus areas of the SRIJAN programme, Satish Sharma said "the initiative is playing a transformative role in strengthening the sports landscape of the Union Territory by expanding grassroots sports infrastructure across Jammu, Kashmir and other regions. This is being done by ensuring transparent, merit-based selections free from any bias; integrating sports with education and skill development; promoting greater participation of girls and enhancing inclusivity and establishing sports as a dignified and sustainable career option with viable livelihood opportunities, he said0. He reaffirmed the governmentâs firm commitment and said that sustained efforts were underway to create international-standard sports facilities, including modern cricket stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar. He also highlighted the strengthening of Khelo India Centres, promotion of traditional sports such as Dangal and enhanced collaboration with the Union Ministry to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a national sports hub. âAs Sports Minister, I assure our athletes that the government stands firmly with them. Our focus is not only on infrastructure creation but also on nurturing talent, discipline and confidence among the youth,â he said. The Minister lauded the determination, resilience and dedication of young sportspersons, describing them as the living legacy of the SRIJAN mission. He urged them to continue training with passion, remain disciplined and dream fearlessly, assuring them of full institutional support at every step of their journey. Satish Sharma expressed hope that the conference would serve as the foundation of a new era where every talented child, from the mountains of Kashmir to the plains of Jammu, is provided an equal opportunity to shine on the global stage. He concluded by reiterating the governmentâs resolve to make sports a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social inclusion and regional pride in Jammu and Kashmir. Director General, Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and prominent persons from different fields and states along with senior officers of the Youth Services and Sports Department, were also present on the occasion.
Suhail Khan Srinagar, Mar 4: Nearly 200 Umrah pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are stranded in Saudi Arabia following the suspension of international flights due to escalating hostilities in West Asia. Family members and travel agents said the pilgrims, mostly from the Srinagar, Budgam, and Anantnag districts, are currently lodged in hotels in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. Their scheduled return flights to India over the past 48 hours were canceled after multiple carriers suspended operations amid airspace restrictions. In Srinagar, families are struggling to get clarity on when their relatives will return. Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Nowhatta said his 68-year-old mother, Fatima, is among those stranded. âShe calls multiple times a day. She completed her Umrah four days ago and was supposed to come back. We have no information on when the next flight will be,â he told Kashmir Square. A family from Dooru Anantnag said their two relativesâa married couple in their sixtiesâare lodged in a Jeddah hotel with nearly 50 other pilgrims from the Valley. "They said the hotel staff is cooperative, but the uncertainty is killing them. The wife told my mother, 'Hum yahan phans gaye. Dua karo jald se jald nikaal lo' (We are trapped here. Pray that we are taken out soon)," a family member said. Another pilgrim's son from Sopore said his father, a retired government employee, is trying to keep his fellow stranded travelers calm but is himself struggling with anxiety. "He told me, 'Main yahan logon ko samjha raha hoon, lekin andar se main bhi toot raha hoon. Tum log kuch karo' (I am counseling people here, but inside I am also breaking down. You people do something)," the son said. The delay has triggered financial worries for several families. Rouf Ahmad from Bijbehara said his brother and sister-in-law are stuck in a hotel in Medina. âHotel bills are accumulating. They had not planned for an extended stay. We are appealing to the government to intervene,â he said. The Indian diplomatic missions in Jeddah and Riyadh have issued helpline numbers and said they are coordinating with tour operators and Saudi authorities. An official at the Embassy of India stated they are in âcontinuous touchâ with airlines to facilitate the return of Indian nationals once flight operations normalize. Travel agents in the Valley said they are in contact with ground handlers in Saudi Arabia. âThe pilgrims are safe and accommodated. But the longer the disruption continues, the more difficult logistics will become,â said Arshid Ahmad, said a travel agent in Lal Chowk. A senior official said that authorities have advised stranded pilgrims to remain in touch with their tour coordinators and register with the embassy helplines. No timeline has been provided for the resumption of commercial flights. He said that from the government's end, efforts are ongoing to bring all Indian pilgrims, students, and other businessmen back home from the conflict-hit region. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed concern for students, pilgrims, and businessmen from the union territory stranded in conflict-hit Iran and other West Asian countries. He stated that he had met with their parents and was monitoring the situation. He confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs is working to evacuate all remaining students, and efforts are also underway to bring back all stranded J&K residents from the West Asian countries.
Washington, Jan 21: Sharpening his rhetoric on Greenland, US President Donald Trump raised questions about NATO's reliability, signalling that security commitments to Europe could increasingly be tied to economic and strategic leverage. At a White House news conference marking one year since his return to office, Trump declined to say how far Washington might go to secure US interests related to Greenland. Asked directly, he replied: âYouâll find out.â Pressed on whether force was an option, Trump avoided specifics. He pointed instead to economic tools. He said tariffs, licensing and âother alternativesâ were available and described them as âthe best, the strongest, the fastest.â Trump said he had meetings planned on Greenland during his trip to Davos. âWe have a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland,â he said. He added that he believed âthings are going to work out pretty well.â The president paired those comments with renewed criticism of NATO. He repeated claims that he strengthened the alliance by pushing members to raise defence spending. He said allies agreed to lift spending to 5 per cent of GDP from the long-standing 2 per cent target. âGetting them to go up to five per cent of GDP was something that nobody thought was possible,â he said. At the same time, Trump questioned whether the alliance would stand with the United States in a crisis. "NATO is only as good as we are,â he said. Without the US, he added, the alliance would not be very strong. He said he had concerns about whether allies would come to Washingtonâs aid. Trump said he had improved NATOâs position but remained sceptical of its structure. He argued that the US bears a disproportionate share of the burden. He said his approach forced allies to pay more and buy more from the United States. He dismissed the idea of attending a proposed G-7 emergency meeting in Paris. Asked if he would go at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said: âNo, I wouldnât do that.â He questioned Macronâs political longevity and said he preferred meetings with leaders âthat are directly involved.â Trump said he got along personally with Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He added that both countries faced serious problems. He pointed to immigration and energy as Europeâs main challenges. He urged leaders to rethink wind power and use domestic energy resources. The remarks fit Trumpâs broader approach to foreign policy. He often links security guarantees to economic pressure. He argues that tariffs and trade leverage force allies and rivals to negotiate. Trump said the strategy made the United States richer and more secure. âWeâre the richest we ever were,â he said, crediting pressure tactics for the gains. Greenland and NATO have taken on added importance as competition grows in the Arctic and Europe. Trumpâs comments suggest US policy will continue to tie alliances, territory and trade more closely together. (IANS)
Washington, Jan 17: President Donald Trump said that his administration reshaped global dynamics through assertive diplomacy and military action, laying out an expansive account of US foreign policy and economic gains during remarks at a Florida event. Trump said US actions abroad had produced swift and decisive outcomes. âWe have peace in the Middle East. Nobody thought that was going to be possible,â he said, pointing to what he described as multiple agreements reached within a year. He also claimed "US intervention" helped avert conflict between two nuclear nations -- India and Pakistan, and said the effort saved âmany millions of people.â Trump said Iranâs nuclear ambitions had been dismantled, declaring that the United States had âobliterated Iranâs nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer.â He also cited operations against militant leaders, including the founder of ISIS and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, arguing that decisive military action had strengthened US security and deterrence. Trump said the United States had apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, describing him as an âoutlawâ and asserting that âno other nation in the world could have doneâ what the United States achieved. He said the move was part of a broader effort to reset relations and relieve regional pressures. The president said the United States had attracted unprecedented levels of foreign investment. âWe have $18 trillion being invested,â he said, adding that the total could rise further. He credited tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks and tariffs for driving growth and said manufacturing activity was expanding at historic levels. âWeâre building more factories in the United States now than at any time in our history,â he said, citing both automotive and advanced technology sectors. Trump said tariffs played a central role in pushing companies to shift production to the United States. âThey donât want to pay the tariffs,â he said, calling it a âpretty simple formula.â He also pointed to stock market performance and retirement savings, saying 401(k) accounts were âdoing better than theyâve ever done before.â On immigration, Trump said his administration had fully secured the southern border, describing illegal crossings as an âinvasionâ that had been halted. He said enforcement efforts focused on violent criminals and gangs, while legal immigration continued through established processes. (IANS)
