Author: Kashmir Newsline

Mariya Dar Essentially, all life depends upon the soil. There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.  —Charles E. Kellogg, USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, 1938 Soil is fundamental to the existence of life and it has often been referred to as a dynamic living entity as it acts as digestive system by decomposing and recycling the majority of the materials that are added to it, making them accessible for new life. Soil, a naturally occurring body, is a mixture that contains minerals, organic matter and living organisms. It serves as a natural…

The heist that England pulled off at Rawalpindi after a bold declaration is one of a kind and will be talked about for a long time to come. Newsline Staffer To the puritans of the game, Test cricket is the real deal. Every now and then, in the middle of the T20 razmataaz that has overshadowed the longest format, we get to see a thrilling duel that reinforces our belief in Test cricket. On December 5 at Rawalpindi, England sealed a Test match that looked all set for a draw after the first two innings. From the very first day…

The recent attack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul should be a concern for all the stakeholders. Shome Basu Terrorist attacks on diplomats is not new in Kabul or elsewhere in Afghanistan. Indian, Russian, American and Pakistani diplomats have always been the prime target. Also, the diplomats from NATO allies aren’t safe but not in as bad a position as these four countries. In a recent attack, Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires, Obaid Nizamani, escaped a bid on his life at the Embassy complex in the highly secured Green Zone of Kabul city. His bodyguard was injured in the attack. The assailants…

Mentally or visually challenged customers fall under a bank’s ‘special types’ category and they can avail all the facilities that any other customer can. Sajjad Bazaz Some time back, I found an interesting mail in my inbox. The sender, while narrating a banking issue of his visually impaired father, a government employee, had raised signature problem causing lot of inconvenience to the customers while conducting a financial transaction at a bank branch. Before deliberating upon the issues confronting visually impaired bank customers, let me tell you that, according to an estimate, more than 40 per cent bank customers either feel…

The series is crucial for Pakistan as far as the World Test Championship is concerned.  Bilal Ahsan Dar In continuation of the  England cricket team’s tour of  Pakistan in September and October this year to play seven Twenty20 International (T20I) matches as a preparatory series before the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the English team returned to Pakistan to play three Test matches.  The Test matches form part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. The three-match series is a historic one for Pakistan, who are set to welcome England for the first time since 2005 to play Test cricket. Rawalpindi will host the first Test…

Shome Basu The tumultuous relationship between India and Pakistan oftentimes serves as one of the finest content providers to the Indian cinema. The majority of the time, an Indo-Pak script is quite popular with audiences on both sides of the border. Prior to the partition, writers like Sadat Hasan Manto played a key role in addition to actors, directors, and scriptwriters in shaping the Indian cinema. Bollywood, as we know it today, owes a lot to performers like Prithiviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Krishna Chander, and Ismat Chugtai, to mention a few. Several movies, including Hena, Border, LoC Kargil, Gadar, Uri,…

The 368-page book is a compelling read.   Col. Sushil Tanwar To most of us, the mere mention of the word ‘Pashtun’ creates an image of mystique and intrigue. Are the Pashtuns violent or are they benevolent? Are they oppressed or are they opportunists? Are the Pashtuns men of honour or masters of survival? What do they value more? Tribal traditions or religious faith? These are complex and intricate questions with unsure answers. Tilak Devasher, one of the most prolific commentators within the Indian strategic community, has attempted to demystify these multiple layers of Pashtun identity in his latest offering, The…

Last week, traffic cops were spotted flagging down private vehicles near Srinagar’s Zero Bridge and fining the offenders for using high beam headlights. Citing Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the city traffic chief told a local news agency that the department has launched a campaign against those who are found using high beam lights or have LED lights or strips on their vehicles. The traffic department has, of late, taken a stern action against ‘serious’ traffic violators and sent their cases to traffic courts which have pronounced strict punishments, including imprisonment. In one such case, a transport judge sentenced…

Qatar’s crimes cannot even remotely come close to those that the West continues to perpetrate. Saurabh Kumar Shahi One of the most hilarious images to have come out of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar was an English fan complaining to a Western news channel about the disappointment he has faced as a fan while trying to enjoy the tournament. “Qatar must understand that it is the fans who run the game,” he adds in good measure. Only if you were not focusing on his words would you have realised that the man was dressed as a Templar Crusader…

Two-time Guinness World Record holder, ace cyclist Adil Teli’s story is one of hard work, focus, obsession and an unflinching support from the family and others. Jaspreet Kaur When I first met him in Delhi, Adil came across as shy, humble and quite a reserved young man. He took his time but once he started to relate his story, his eyes lit up and he was all of a champion. 25-year-old Adil Ahmad Teli is a two-time Guinness World Record holder in road cycling. The first record came when he cycled all the way from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and the…