The Azadi Times is the only English-language news outlet of its kind in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the largest English news network in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It reports on the whole of disputed Jammu and Kashmir, including the Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Ladakh, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Founded in October 2020 by journalist and media entrepreneur Atif Maqbool, The Azadi Times began with a simple conviction: a region at the centre of world attention deserved a newsroom of its own, one that reports from within and in the language the world reads. Headquartered in Muzaffarabad, the organisation publishes daily news, current affairs, features, analysis and opinion in English and Urdu.
The Azadi Times is independent in ownership and editorial direction. Its reporters and contributors come from across the region and write for readers who hold a wide range of political views. The newsroom’s guiding rule is that facts come first, every side is heard, and no government, party or interest group dictates what is published.
Since its launch, The Azadi Times has grown from a regional news portal into a news network read in Pakistan, across Jammu and Kashmir, and in the Kashmiri diaspora in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Gulf and North America. Its stories are used by many newspapers, radio stations, television channels and websites, which draw on its reporting and content services.
Today, The Azadi Times covers politics, governance, human rights, the economy, education, health, the environment and culture across every part of the region. Alongside its daily news report, it publishes investigations, long-form features and opinion from journalists, academics and subject experts.
The organisation reaches its audience through its website, [azaditimes.com], and through its growing presence on Facebook, YouTube and other social platforms.
For readers who want to understand Jammu and Kashmir as a whole rather than as separate parts, The Azadi Times offers a single source: accurate, balanced and independent.
Our Editorial Principles
Accuracy. We verify before we publish and correct errors openly.
Independence. Our editorial decisions are made by editors, never by outside interests.
Fairness. We give every relevant side a hearing and a right of reply.
Accountability. We hold every authority to account, wherever it governs.
Responsibility. We report on conflict and loss with care for the people involved.
Leadership and Editorial Team
Atif Maqbool, Founder
Syeda Sehar, Editor-in-Chief
Noreen Haider, Managing Editor
Subtain Khan, News Editor
Zain Saleem, Op-ed Editor
Akbar Hussain, Bureau Chief, Gilgit-Baltistan
Sobia Bhat, Bureau Chief, Jammu and Kashmir
Parkash J., Head of Digital
Zia Ali, Head of Partnerships and Advertising
Copyright
All materials © 2020–2026 The Azadi Times. No article, photograph, video or other material may be reproduced, republished or redistributed in any form, including print, broadcast and online, without prior written permission. To request permission to reuse content or to enquire about syndication, please write to [email protected].