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Breaking: Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Shakes Azad Kashmir and Northern Pakistan

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Tremors Felt in Muzaffarabad, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa After Quake Near Afghanistan’s Kalafgan

Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir | June 27: A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck near Kalafgan, Afghanistan, at approximately 6:35 PM (local time) on Friday, sending tremors across Azad Kashmir, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other northern parts of Pakistan.

According to preliminary seismic reports, the earthquake’s epicenter was located near Kalafgan in northeastern Afghanistan. Residents in Muzaffarabad and several other cities reported feeling strong tremors, prompting many people to evacuate their homes, offices, and commercial buildings as a precaution.

As of the time of publication, no official reports of casualties or property damage have been received from authorities in Azad Kashmir or other affected areas. Emergency response agencies are continuing to monitor the situation.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, follow official safety advisories, and report any emergencies to the relevant departments.

This is a developing story. The Azadi Times will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available

Kashmiri faces Deepening Political Crisis as Crackdown Allegations, Internet Blackout, and Supply Disruptions Fuel Tensions

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MUZAFFARABAD / RAWALAKOT — Political tensions are intensifying across Pakistan-administered Kashmir as allegations of a widening crackdown against the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) continue to emerge amid ongoing protests, communication restrictions, and growing concerns over access to essential supplies.

 

According to reports received by Azadi Times from activists, local residents, and members of the Action Committee, individuals associated with the movement are allegedly being pressured to publicly distance themselves from the organization. Several video statements have surfaced on social media in recent weeks featuring former supporters and associates criticizing the committee and announcing their departure from the movement.

 

Supporters of the JKJAAC argue that these statements form part of a broader campaign aimed at weakening public support for the organization. Government officials have not publicly responded to these specific allegations, and Azadi Times has not independently verified the circumstances under which the statements were recorded.

 

The controversy intensified on June 20 when a video statement attributed to Amjad Ali Khan, previously associated with the Action Committee as a legal adviser, circulated online. In the statement, Khan announced his separation from the organization and leveled serious accusations against its leadership. The claims have triggered widespread debate across Kashmiri social media platforms, where supporters of the movement have questioned the circumstances surrounding the statement and described it as part of an alleged pressure campaign.

The developments come as Rawalakot remains at the center of a prolonged standoff between authorities and protesters. According to local accounts, internet and mobile data services have been severely disrupted in parts of the region for nearly two weeks, significantly affecting communication, business activity, and access to information.

Residents and activists further allege that restrictions on transportation and supply routes have disrupted the movement of food, medicines, and other essential goods into parts of Poonch Division and Rawalakot. Truck operators and transport workers reportedly claim that vehicles carrying supplies have faced obstacles reaching affected areas. These claims could not be independently verified, and authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive public explanation regarding the reported disruptions.

Human rights advocates warn that prolonged communication blackouts and restrictions on the movement of goods can have serious humanitarian consequences, particularly for vulnerable communities dependent on uninterrupted access to healthcare, food supplies, and emergency services.

As the situation continues to evolve, members of the Action Committee, including prominent activist leaders such as Umar Nazir Kashmiri and other representatives, have increasingly turned to social media platforms and overseas Kashmiri communities to draw international attention to developments in the region. Activists are calling on global human rights organizations, international media outlets, and democratic institutions to monitor the situation and advocate for the protection of civil liberties.

The political atmosphere became even more polarized after authorities reportedly moved to designate the Action Committee as an unlawful organization. Government representatives maintain that their actions are intended to preserve public order and security. However, supporters of the movement argue that the designation risks criminalizing peaceful political dissent and civic activism.

The designation remains highly contested and continues to generate debate among legal experts, political observers, and civil society groups. Critics contend that restrictions on political organization and expression could further deepen public mistrust, while supporters of the government’s position argue that authorities must retain the ability to respond to actions perceived as threatening public stability.

For many Kashmiris, the current confrontation represents more than a dispute between a protest movement and the state. It has evolved into a broader debate over democratic participation, civil liberties, accountability, and the future direction of governance in the region.

With protests continuing, communication restrictions reportedly remaining in place, and competing narratives dominating public discourse, observers warn that the absence of meaningful dialogue risks further escalating tensions.

The Azadi Times will continue monitoring developments and seeks responses from government officials, independent observers, and all relevant stakeholders regarding the claims outlined in this report.

The Quiet Architect: Neshat Huda and the Business of Being Seen

In the sprawling, sun-bleached landscape of Los Angeles County, where beauty is often a commodity traded in quick fixes and filtered illusions, there exists a studio where the work moves more slowly. It moves more deliberately. Inside a modest but meticulously kept space in Carson, California, a woman is mapping not just eyebrows, but the contours of a new kind of enterprise entirely.

Her name is Neshat Huda. To her 200,000-plus digital followers, she is a trusted guide through the opaque world of permanent makeup. To her clients, she is the artist who finally understood their skin. And to industry observers paying close attention, she represents something increasingly rare: a professional whose authority is built not on the shaky scaffolding of viral fame, but on the deep, load-bearing piles of verifiable skill, cross-cultural intelligence, and strategic patience.

The Geometry of Trust

To understand why Huda’s approach resonates, one must first understand the anatomy of the service she provides. Permanent makeup—or PMU—is not a mere cosmetic indulgence. It is a procedure that breaks the skin barrier, implants pigment, and permanently alters the architecture of the face. The stakes are intimate. A poorly executed brow can fracture a person’s self-image; a masterful one can quietly rebuild it.

Huda treats this responsibility with the gravity of a surgeon and the eye of a portraitist. Her studio, BestPMULA, does not advertise aggressively. It does not offer the cheapest rates or the fastest appointments. What it offers instead is a process—methodical, consultative, and unflinchingly honest. Clients report that their sessions feel less like beauty treatments and more like collaborative design workshops, where facial symmetry, bone structure, and lifestyle are discussed long before a needle touches skin.

This geometry of trust—the measurable distance between a client’s anxiety and their eventual satisfaction—has become the studio’s true product. And it cannot be counterfeited by competitors who view PMU as a quick-profit venture.

From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific

The foundational layer of Huda’s professional character was laid in Chittagong, Bangladesh, a port city whose identity is shaped by the constant arrival and departure of ships, goods, and ideas. Growing up in a culture that prizes meticulous handcraft—from the intricate patterns of kantha embroidery to the precision of mehndi application—she absorbed an early understanding that beauty work is a form of labour that demands patience and reverence.

Her family’s relocation to the United States introduced the friction that often polishes raw talent into something sharper. In New York, she balanced the rigorous academic demands of a Business Administration program at Queens College with the gritty realities of working as a part-time PMU artist. While her classmates studied market theories in textbooks, Huda was testing them in real time—learning supply and demand by watching the booking calendar of her tiny New York workspace, studying consumer psychology through the intimate conversations that happen only when a client closes their eyes and trusts you with their face.

The Credential That Speaks

In the unregulated wilderness of the American PMU industry, credentials are everything and nothing. There exist practitioners with walls full of certificates who produce mediocre work, and self-taught artists with raw genius. The consumer, often bewildered, is left to gamble.

Huda refuses to let her clients gamble. Her designation as a 4X certified PMU artist is not decorative; it is declarative. Each certification represents a distinct body of knowledge—color theory as it applies to melanin-rich skin, needle depth modulation for different facial zones, infection control protocols that exceed state requirements. Taken together, they form a composite portrait of a professional who has refused to stop learning.

What makes this commitment notable is not the certificates themselves, but the philosophy they imply. In a culture that increasingly rewards speed and shortcuts, Huda has tethered her brand to the slower, costlier, and far more durable value of rigorous study. It is a bet that quality will outlast noise. So far, the bet is paying off.

The Digital Mirror

Huda’s relationship with the internet is worth examining because it defies the prevailing logic of content creation. She did not build her substantial digital following by chasing trending audio or manufacturing controversy. Instead, she treated her social platforms as an extension of her consultation room—a place where education happens, where myths are dismantled, and where prospective clients can observe an artist’s mind at work long before they book an appointment.

Her content library functions as a transparent archive. A viewer can watch the full arc of a lip blush procedure, from skin preparation to healed results. They can hear her explain, in measured, unscripted language, why certain pigments oxidize differently on olive skin tones. They can witness her hand—steady, deliberate, never theatrical—performing the work in real time. This level of procedural transparency is rare in any field. In the beauty industry, where smoke and mirrors are often the standard business model, it is almost radical.

This digital footprint has become a permanent portfolio, one that works around the clock and across time zones. It signals to search engines, to potential collaborators, and to the industry at large that Neshat Huda is not a transient figure. She is an enduring entity.

The Media Education

In 2024, Huda expanded her creative practice into an unexpected arena: international media production, working alongside established director Steven Schillaci. The entertainment industry may seem, at first glance, a world apart from permanent makeup. But the connective tissue, for Huda, was immediate.

On film sets, she studied how cinematographers use light to sculpt a face—how a slight adjustment in key light can sharpen a jawline or soften an expression. She observed how makeup artists for the screen approach pigmentation, how they anticipate the camera’s unforgiving eye. These lessons did not stay on set. They traveled back with her to Carson, informing how she designs brows that must hold their integrity not just in bathroom mirrors, but in photographs, in video calls, in the high-definition reality of modern life.

This cross-pollination of disciplines—aesthetics and cinema, beauty and media production—adds a dimensional layer to her professional identity that few in her field can claim. It suggests an artist who is not content to stay within the lines drawn for her by industry convention.

The Unspoken Code

There is a quiet political dimension to Huda’s work that she rarely articulates aloud, but which her clients understand implicitly. The permanent makeup industry, like much of the broader beauty sector, was built on a narrow set of aesthetic assumptions. The default client was imagined as fair-skinned, with a certain facial topography. Anyone outside that narrow band was an afterthought, or worse, a problem to be solved.

Huda, by her very presence and practice, dismantles that legacy. Her Bangladeshi heritage is not a sidebar in her biography; it is the central processor through which she views her work. She understands melanin-rich skin not as a special case requiring accommodation, but as a canvas with its own rules, its own possibilities, its own deep and varied beauty. For clients of South Asian, Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American descent, walking into BestPMULA is an experience of being seen—fully, accurately, without explanation—that mainstream beauty spaces have too often denied them.

The Horizon Line

What does the next iteration of Neshat Huda look like? Those who track the business of beauty point to several vectors. There is the almost certain development of a formal educational curriculum, designed to train the next generation of PMU artists in the multicultural competencies that define her practice. There is the logical progression toward a product line—pigments, aftercare, tools—engineered for the diverse skin tones she serves daily. There is the deepening of her media presence, perhaps toward hosting, consulting, or producing content that continues to bridge the gap between professional expertise and public understanding.

But predictions are, by nature, speculative. What is already visible, already measurable, is enough to mark her as a significant figure. She has built a solvent business without compromising her standards. She has grown a large audience without sacrificing her substance. She has navigated two cultures, multiple industries, and the turbulent waters of American entrepreneurship with a compass that appears, by all evidence, to be perfectly calibrated.

In an age that rewards loudness, Neshat Huda has chosen precision. In an industry built on surfaces, she has committed to depth. The result is not just a successful studio in a California suburb. It is a working model for what the beauty professional of the future can, and perhaps must, become.

At a Glance: Neshat Huda

Field Information
Legal Name Neshat Huda
Origin Chittagong, Bangladesh
National Status Bangladeshi-American
Academic Qualification B.A., Business Administration, Queens College, City University of New York
Primary Occupation Permanent Makeup Artist, Entrepreneur, Digital Educator
Industry Credentials 4X Certified PMU Artist
Business Entity BestPMULA (est. 2021, Carson, CA)
Online Community 200,000+ across digital platforms
Media Credit Production collaboration with Steven Schillaci (2024)
Official Website https://neshathuda.com

Muzaffarabad: Police Detain Women During Peace March Near Naluchi Bridge

Women and Children from Police Lines Locality Participate in Demonstration, Reports of Detentions Emerge

MUZAFFARABAD, Azad Kashmir (The Azadi Times) — Several women were reportedly detained by police in Muzaffarabad on Tuesday after a peace march organized by residents of the Police Lines locality reached the Naluchi Bridge area.

According to local accounts, the march included women, young girls, and children who walked along the road carrying placards and chanting slogans calling for peace. Participants described the gathering as a peaceful demonstration aimed at expressing their concerns and demands.

Witnesses told The Azadi Times that the march continued towards Naluchi Bridge, where police personnel intervened. Reports circulating from the scene allege that several women were detained during the operation. Some participants also claimed that force was used while dispersing the gathering, although these claims could not be independently verified at the time of publication.

Videos and images shared on social media appeared to show a significant police presence in the area. However, authorities had not immediately issued a detailed statement explaining the reasons for the detentions or responding to allegations of the use of force.

The incident has drawn attention from local residents and civil society members, some of whom have called for clarity regarding the circumstances of the detentions and the treatment of participants in the march.

The Azadi Times is seeking comments from the relevant authorities and will update this report as more verified information becomes available.

Concerns Grow Over Disruption of Essential Goods Supply in Azad Kashmir

Reports of Trucks Carrying Food and Basic Necessities Being Stopped Raise Fears of Artificial Shortages

Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir: Concerns are mounting in Azad Kashmir following reports that trucks transporting food supplies and other essential goods have been stopped at Beor and several other entry points into the region. Residents and observers warn that continued disruptions could lead to shortages of basic necessities, directly affecting ordinary citizens.

According to local reports, restrictions on the movement of supply vehicles have raised fears of an artificial shortage of food, medicines, and everyday household items. Citizens say the consequences would be felt most acutely by vulnerable groups, including children, women, the elderly, and patients who rely on uninterrupted access to essential supplies.

The situation has sparked concerns among civil society members and local communities, who argue that access to food, healthcare products, and other necessities should not be compromised under any circumstances. They stress that regardless of political disagreements, protests, or administrative disputes, civilians should not bear the burden of disruptions that threaten their well-being.

Observers note that the international community has previously expressed concern over situations in conflict-affected regions where access to food and humanitarian supplies was restricted. They argue that any measures that limit the availability of essential goods can quickly develop into a serious humanitarian issue if left unaddressed.

Civil society representatives have called on authorities and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the uninterrupted transportation of food, medicines, and other essential commodities into Azad Kashmir. They emphasize that protecting civilian welfare and preventing collective hardship must remain a priority.

Residents have urged the government and local administration to take immediate steps to restore normal supply chains and prevent any escalation that could further impact daily life across the region.

Note: The claims referenced in this report are based on local accounts and public statements. The article will be updated if official responses from relevant authorities become available.

Global Oil Prices Fall 4% Following Reports of US-Iran Agreement

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Markets react positively as concerns over potential supply disruptions ease

LONDON — Global crude oil prices fell by nearly 4 percent after reports emerged that the United States and Iran had reached a significant agreement, easing market concerns about geopolitical tensions and potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

International benchmark crude prices declined sharply during trading as investors responded to expectations that improved relations between Washington and Tehran could help stabilize energy markets and potentially increase oil supply.

Market analysts said the decline reflects growing optimism among traders that a diplomatic breakthrough could reduce uncertainty in the Middle East, a region that plays a critical role in global oil production and exports.

Oil markets have experienced heightened volatility in recent weeks due to regional tensions, concerns over shipping routes, and uncertainty surrounding future energy supplies. News of a potential agreement prompted investors to reassess risk premiums that had previously driven prices higher.

Energy experts note that any agreement involving Iran could have significant implications for global oil markets, given the country’s substantial energy reserves and its importance within international energy trade.

Financial markets also responded positively to the development, with investors viewing reduced geopolitical tensions as a factor that could support global economic stability and ease inflationary pressures linked to energy costs.

While details of the reported agreement have yet to be fully disclosed, traders and policymakers are closely monitoring developments for indications of how the deal may affect sanctions, oil exports, and broader regional dynamics.

The Azadi Times will continue to follow developments and provide updates as more verified information becomes available.

Muzaffarabad Shutdown Enters Seventh Day as Internet Disruption Continues

Markets remain closed while communication outages enter their tenth day across the regional capital

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan-administered Kashmir — A complete wheel-jam and shutter-down strike entered its seventh consecutive day in Muzaffarabad on Friday, with commercial activity remaining largely suspended across the city.

Major markets, business centers, and transport services continued to remain closed as residents navigated growing disruptions to daily life. The prolonged shutdown has affected trade, transportation, and access to essential services in the regional capital.

Meanwhile, internet services in Muzaffarabad and several surrounding areas have reportedly remained unavailable for ten consecutive days, according to residents and local sources. The communication disruption has created challenges for businesses, students, journalists, and families seeking to remain connected with relatives both inside and outside the region.

The combined impact of the shutdown and internet outage has intensified concerns among traders and residents, many of whom say prolonged restrictions are affecting livelihoods and access to information.

The developments come amid ongoing public mobilization and political activity reported across various districts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Calls for restoring communication services and addressing public concerns through dialogue have continued from different sections of society.

At the time of publication, no comprehensive official statement had been issued regarding when internet services would be restored or how long the shutdown was expected to continue.

The Azadi Times continues to monitor developments and will provide verified updates as further information becomes available.

JKJAAC Signals Major Announcement for Muzaffarabad Residents

Action Committee urges public to remain prepared as it hints at an important upcoming call

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan-administered Kashmir — The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) has issued a brief statement indicating that an important announcement for residents of Muzaffarabad may be made in the near future.

In a message circulated on social media and messaging platforms, the committee urged residents of Muzaffarabad to remain prepared, stating that a significant call would be issued shortly.

“People of Muzaffarabad should remain ready. We will soon be giving a very important call,” the statement said.

No further details were provided regarding the nature of the announcement, its timing, or any planned activities associated with it.

The statement comes amid continuing political mobilisation, demonstrations, and public gatherings reported across several districts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir in recent days. Observers say any major call involving Muzaffarabad is likely to attract significant public attention given the city’s role as the region’s administrative center.

At the time of publication, committee representatives had not released additional information clarifying the purpose of the anticipated announcement.

The Azadi Times could not independently verify what action or event the statement refers to and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Indian Air Force Transport Aircraft Crashes in Assam During Landing Attempt

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AN-32 aircraft catches fire after crash; no immediate reports of casualties

NEW DELHI — An Indian Air Force transport aircraft crashed in the northeastern Indian state of Assam during a landing attempt, according to Indian media reports.

The aircraft, identified as an AN-32 military transport plane, reportedly caught fire after crashing within the premises of an Indian Air Force station.

Initial reports indicate that the incident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land. Emergency response teams were deployed to the scene shortly after the crash, while authorities began assessing the extent of the damage.

As of publication, there were no confirmed reports regarding fatalities or injuries. Officials have yet to release detailed information about the number of personnel on board or the circumstances that may have led to the incident.

Images circulating on social media showed smoke and flames rising from the crash site, though the authenticity of all footage could not be independently verified.

The AN-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft that has been used extensively by the Indian Air Force for logistical and operational missions, particularly in remote and mountainous regions.

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the crash.

The accident comes amid heightened scrutiny of military aviation safety across South Asia following several recent aviation incidents involving military aircraft in the region.

The Azadi Times will continue to monitor developments and update this report as additional verified information becomes available.

Bilawal Bhutto Urges Immediate Fulfilment of Commitments Made to People of Azad Kashmir

PPP chairman calls for implementation of public promises and stresses political dialogue to address ongoing concerns

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called on both the Pakistani government and the government in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to ensure the immediate implementation of commitments made to the people of the region.

Speaking about the current situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Bilawal said that public concerns should be addressed through political engagement, fulfilment of promises, and democratic processes rather than allowing grievances to deepen.

He argued that when mainstream political parties are not provided sufficient political space to address public issues, non-party movements and other forces often emerge to fill the vacuum.

Bilawal stated that when the current government in Pakistan-administered Kashmir was formed, he had issued clear instructions that all commitments made to the Kashmiri people should be honoured. He added that the PPP considers public promises a matter of trust and political responsibility.

According to Bilawal, Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq and the PPP leadership in the region have made efforts to fulfil their responsibilities and address public concerns.

The PPP chairman also directed senior party leader Faisal Mumtaz Rathore to ensure the implementation of matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the government in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Addressing broader political challenges, Bilawal emphasized the importance of dialogue and democratic engagement in resolving differences. He warned that unresolved internal disputes can create opportunities for external actors to exploit instability.

He reiterated that lasting solutions to public grievances lie in political dialogue, the fulfilment of commitments, and the continuation of democratic processes.

The statement comes at a time of heightened political activity and public mobilization across several districts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where various groups have been calling for action on longstanding public concerns.

The Azadi Times will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more verified information becomes available.