Latest news with #Kashmir-based
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Ex-Pakistan foreign minister warns full-scale war with India closer than ever after recent skirmishes
WASHINGTON — Pakistan's former foreign minister warned US lawmakers and diplomats last week that the 'threshold' for war between his nation and India is lower than ever following clashes in the disputed region of Kashmir last month. 'We're incredibly grateful for the role that the US government — President Trump, Secretary [of State] Marco Rubio — created throughout this crisis in helping us all achieve this cease-fire,' Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the current chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, told The Post in a recent interview. 'But our message has been that the cease-fire is a start, but it is only a start, and what we seek is assistance in our pursuit of peace through dialogue and diplomacy.' 4 Ex-foreign minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned US lawmakers and diplomats last week that the 'threshold' of war between his nation and India is closer than ever following skirmishes in the disputed region of Kashmir last month. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 'We're all a lot less safe as a result of this conflict than we were before,' added Zardari, the son of the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. 'The threshold of full-out military conflict between India and Pakistan has been drastically lowered — the lowest it has ever been in our history, as a result of this conflict.' The US-brokered truce between the nuclear-armed nations took effect May 10 after weeks of fighting. India accused Pakistan of sparking the conflict by supporting an April 22 terror attack that left 26 civilians dead in the segment of Kashmir under New Delhi's control. Advertisement 4 India accused Pakistan of sparking the conflict by backing an April 22 terror attack that left 26 civilians dead in the segment of Kashmir under New Delhi's control. AP Most of those killed were Hindus, and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri pointed the finger at the Kashmir-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the carnage in the resort town of Pahalgam. The Pakistani delegation that came to Washington expressed a desire to coordinate with India on counter-terrorism — but rejected that Islamabad was involved in any way with the attack. 'The Prime Minister of Pakistan offered an impartial international inquiry because we were confident that Pakistan is not involved in this terrorist incident,' Zardari said. 'The international intelligence community endorses this view.' Advertisement 4 The Pakistani delegation that came to Washington expressed a desire to discuss coordinating with India on counter-terrorism — but rejected that Pakistan was involved in any way with the attack. AP 'As things stand now, if there's a terrorist attack anywhere in India,' he went on, 'it immediately means war, and the law of reciprocation means, therefore, if there's a terrorist attack in Pakistan, we are to also treat it as an act of war.' Zardari also said that India's threat to cut off Pakistan's water was 'an existential matter' that would be considered 'an act of war.' 'If we are to engage in a new dialogue with India, make new promises with one another that could potentially lead to new treaties, then it's very important that they abide by the old treaties like the Indus Water Treaty,' he said. Advertisement 4 'I'm optimistic that the president is passionate about peace and that he will be successful in pushing that message here in the United States,' Zardari said of Trump. 'Pakistan is obviously ready.' AP The delegation from Islamabad met with officials in the State Department and Congress and is headed this week to meet with UK and European diplomats in hopes of brokering a more lasting peace. 'We had a military upper hand when we agreed to the cease-fire. We did so on the stipulation that the cease-fire would be the first step,' Zardari said. 'I'm optimistic that the president is passionate about peace and that he will be successful in pushing that message here in the United States. Pakistan is obviously ready.' Reps for the Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
J&K students association launches report seeking reservation policy revamp
The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has launched a detailed report urging the rationalisation of the reservation policy in the Union Territory. The report, prepared in collaboration with the J&K Centre for Peace, Research & Sustainable Development (JKCPRS), a Kashmir-based policy research institute, was released on Monday. The report was launched by JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami, Chairman Mushtaq Habeeb, and Advisor Danish Lone. A delegation from the association also submitted the report to the Chief Minister's Office and met with Nasir Sogami, Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Sogami assured the delegation that 'the researched report will be read, reviewed, and taken into consideration for necessary policy action.' Sogami described the report as a groundbreaking document that critically analyses the current system and points out its structural issues and social inequalities. He said the report offers practical recommendations for a fairer system. Among the 15 key recommendations are conducting a caste-based socio-economic census, dividing sub-groups within reserved categories, revising EWS category criteria, and restoring the 60:40 open merit-to-reserved category ratio. Khuehami said, 'This report is a roadmap. It traces the evolution of reservation trends in J&K, compares them with national and international benchmarks, and highlights glaring disparities that continue to marginalize large sections of society. There is an urgent need for reforms rooted in equity, social justice, and constitutional morality.' The report was created by a 12-member expert committee chaired by JKSA President Ummar Jamal. The team included Faizaan Peer, Danish Lone, Farhat Riyaz, Osheeba Bashir, Adnan Malik, Nazia Israr, Dr. Adil Hussain, Sadiya Farooq Masoodi, Krishna Saproo, Azhar Hassan Mir, Muzamil Ahmad Reshi, and Aamir Akbar. The members came from diverse academic, legal, and policy backgrounds. Khuehami added, 'We are not against reservations. Our fight is against a flawed, disproportionate system that has failed to benefit the genuinely deserving and has sidelined meritorious candidates. We advocate for a balanced framework that ensures both upliftment and meritocracy.' The association plans to connect with civil society groups, schools, and student communities to build wider support for reform. A follow-up white paper will be prepared based on feedback from students, teachers, community leaders, and policy experts. The feedback will be collected through in-person meetings, digital discussions, and written submissions. The association said, 'This must be a people-centric reform process. No voice should be left unheard. We are committed to reaching every section of society to build a unified call for a rational, transparent, and equitable reservation policy.' They added that the goal is not just to challenge the system's flaws but to offer a better way forward. 'Social justice cannot be selective,' the association noted. 'A progressive society must uplift the disadvantaged while also honouring merit. We urge the political leadership to rise above vote-bank politics and initiate an honest, inclusive, and transparent review of the existing reservation framework.' The association also requested a temporary slowdown of recruitment processes in the Union Territory until the reservation issues are addressed. 'We're not calling for a complete halt,' they clarified. 'But continuing recruitment under a flawed system risks grave injustice to open-merit candidates. A temporary pause will provide the necessary time to fix these deep-rooted issues and restore fairness.'
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pahalgam fallout: Kashmir's demand for goats from Amritsar market falls
1 2 3 Amritsar: The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam has also delivered a serious blow to the Amritsar 'Bakar Mandi' (goat market), a key supplier of livestock to Kashmir during Bakr Eid (Eid-ul-Zuha). In the wake of the attack, tourists largely stayed away from Kashmir, which dried up the income for local businesses and households. With the region struggling economically, fewer people are purchasing animals for the traditional Eid sacrifice, said Kuldeep, an animal dealer from Nangla village of Fatehabad district of Haryana, on Thursday. He said due to these reasons, the demand from Jammu and Kashmir, which typically drove sales in Amritsar during this season, had fallen, leaving traders with unsold livestock, slashed prices, and little hope of recovery ahead of the festival. Every year, in the weeks leading up to Eid, the Bakar Mandi begins to hum with activity, catering to a robust demand. "This demand, coming from local residents as well as restaurants, hotels, and private buyers during the tourist season in the Valley, has long made the Amritsar livestock market an important part of the region's economy," observed Amanpreet Singh, a local commission agent in the Bakar Mandi. He added the story was in sharp contrast to past years this time. "The festive buzz is missing. Fewer buyers are coming from Kashmir valley, and those who do are looking to bargain hard. With the drop in tourism in Kashmir, income has dried up, and many families are simply opting out of making animal sacrifices this year," he said. He added some wholesalers from Rajasthan had started bypassing Amritsar altogether, taking their stock directly to Jammu and Kashmir in the hope of increasing sales. "But, with the market there also paralysed, the gamble has largely backfired, resulting in further losses and shaking the foundation of a supply chain that existed for decades," he said, adding that traders were selling live animals for around Rs 400 to Rs 450 per kg in the Valley. In the Amritsar market, it is being sold for Rs 600 to Rs 650 per kg, he said. Anees Khan, a trader from Rajasthan, said earlier, the market used to pick up momentum at least 15-20 days before Eid. Livestock would arrive from Rajasthan, and within days, most of it would be sold off largely to Kashmir-based buyers. Amritsar, located strategically between Rajasthan and Kashmir, has long served as a transit point for the livestock trade, he said. A he majority of animals being sold in Bakar Mandi for sacrifice this year are sheep, as goat prices have gone very high. "A goat is not available for anything less than Rs 30,000. Few people are coming to buy goats. Today, I sold one for ₹50,000, but most of the demand is for sheep," said Khan. MSID:: 121648414 413 |
Mint
28-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
India's first gene-edited sheep developed by Kashmir university researchers. All you need to know
Researchers at a Kashmir-based Agricultural university have produced India's first gene-edited sheep, marking a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) has called it a "ground-breaking scientific achievement". The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework, news agency PTI said. The team of researchers led by Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir, Riaz Ahmad Shah achieved the feat after a research of around four years. Shah's team had previously cloned India's first Pashmina goat- 'Noori'- in 2012, a milestone that garnered global acclaim. "This path-breaking development places India on the global map of advanced genome editing technologies and positions SKUAST-Kashmir at the forefront of reproductive biotechnology research," Shah told PTI, adding, it marks a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and adhered to international biosafety protocols. Shah said the gene-edited lamb has been modified for the 'myostatin' gene - a regulator of muscle growth. 'By disrupting this gene, muscle mass in the animal is enhanced by nearly 30 per cent, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel,' he said. For now this has been done at research level. 'The technique has multiple applications. We can edit the genes responsible for diseases to produce disease-resistant animals. It can also help in the twinning of animals at birth,' Shah told The Indian Express. Gene editing, also known as genome editing, is a group of technologies that allow scientists to precisely change an organism's DNA. These technologies enable the addition, removal, or alteration of genetic material at specific locations within the genome. The development comes on the heels of the recent release of India's first gene-edited rice variety, endorsed by Union Ministry for Agriculture, and further cements India's growing prowess in genomic science, Shah said. "The introduction of this mutation through gene editing, and not through traditional crossbreeding, represents a technological leap akin to the revolution Artificial Intelligence is driving in the 21st century," he said. SKUAST-Kashmir vice-chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai described the achievement as the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in the country. "This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. With gene editing, we have the ability to bring precise, beneficial changes without introducing foreign DNA, making the process efficient, safe, and potentially acceptable to both regulators and consumers," he said. Through gene editing, the researchers targeted a gene in a sheep variety that helps in boosting its muscle weight and gives heavier, almost 30 per cent more weight than normal sheep. This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
India's first gene-edited sheep developed in Kashmir Agricultural university. All you need to know
Researchers at a Kashmir-based Agricultural university have produced India's first gene-edited sheep, marking a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) has called it a "ground-breaking scientific achievement". The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework, news agency PTI said. The team of researchers led by Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir, Riaz Ahmad Shah achieved the feat after a research of around four years. Shah's team had previously cloned India's first Pashmina goat- 'Noori'- in 2012, a milestone that garnered global acclaim. "This path-breaking development places India on the global map of advanced genome editing technologies and positions SKUAST-Kashmir at the forefront of reproductive biotechnology research," Shah told PTI, adding, it marks a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and adhered to international biosafety protocols. Shah said the gene-edited lamb has been modified for the 'myostatin' gene - a regulator of muscle growth. 'By disrupting this gene, muscle mass in the animal is enhanced by nearly 30 per cent, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel,' he said. For now this has been done at research level. 'The technique has multiple applications. We can edit the genes responsible for diseases to produce disease-resistant animals. It can also help in the twinning of animals at birth,' Shah told The Indian Express. Gene editing, also known as genome editing, is a group of technologies that allow scientists to precisely change an organism's DNA. These technologies enable the addition, removal, or alteration of genetic material at specific locations within the genome. The development comes on the heels of the recent release of India's first gene-edited rice variety, endorsed by Union Ministry for Agriculture, and further cements India's growing prowess in genomic science, Shah said. "The introduction of this mutation through gene editing, and not through traditional crossbreeding, represents a technological leap akin to the revolution Artificial Intelligence is driving in the 21st century," he said. SKUAST-Kashmir vice-chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai described the achievement as the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in the country. "This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. With gene editing, we have the ability to bring precise, beneficial changes without introducing foreign DNA, making the process efficient, safe, and potentially acceptable to both regulators and consumers," he said. Through gene editing, the researchers targeted a gene in a sheep variety that helps in boosting its muscle weight and gives heavier, almost 30 per cent more weight than normal sheep. This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. "We have got the offspring from the mother, and one with the mutated gene is distinctly heavier than the non-mutated,' the vice-chancellor said adding that the DNA of the mutated lamb, which is now three months old, will be sent to foreign research labs for further verification.
