Markets reopened in major cities like Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, while a citizen was shot dead by unidentified armed individuals in Qallan Bazaar during ongoing protests.
Normal life returned to several major urban centers across Azad Kashmir on October 5 as the indefinite shutter-down and wheel-jam strike called by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) witnessed a mixed response across different regions.
While commercial centers and transport remained operational in the Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions—with the exception of Dadyal—the impact of the Action Committee’s call remained visible in areas where its influence is strong. Local reports indicated that business activities were also restricted in Dadyal and Khursheedabad in Haveli.
Amid the developing situation, a fatal shooting occurred in Qallan Bazaar near Baloch, where a citizen was killed by unidentified armed individuals. According to eyewitnesses, an off-road vehicle traveled from Hajira toward Trarkhel and later headed toward the Baloch India Morh area during the afternoon.
Local sources claimed that armed individuals inside the vehicle opened fire in the Trarkhel bazaar and subsequently at various other locations along the route. Eyewitnesses in Qallan Bazaar stated that when a local resident attempted to record a video of the vehicle, occupants opened fire, resulting in the immediate death of the civilian. The identity of the attackers and the precise motive behind the shooting remain unverified, while local sources noted that the vehicle traveled along a route where no Action Committee checkpoints or road barriers were established.
Meanwhile, student demonstrations were reported on October 5 inside the Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) campus, indicating that protest sentiments persist despite the resumption of commercial activities in some markets.
In Bagh, the Action Committee alleged that local authorities sealed the shop of a trader named Waleed Shoukat at the Lari Adda, leading to the shop remaining shut in protest. The administration's perspective on this administrative action was not immediately available.
The events of October 5 underscore the complex dynamics of the ongoing protests in the region, characterized by a partial return to normalcy in major cities alongside localized restrictions, continued student activism, and a fatal security incident that has heightened regional concern.
While business districts reopened in Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Bagh, fresh tension gripped Rawalakot district following a fatal shooting incident amid ongoing Joint Awami Action Committee protests.
Normalcy returned to several major urban centers across Azad Kashmir on October 5 as businesses and traffic resumed operations, though protests persisted in select areas alongside a deadly shooting incident in the Rawalakot region.
The developments unfolded under a continued strike call by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), creating mixed conditions across different districts. Markets and transport networks resumed routine activities in the Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Bagh divisions, while commercial hubs remained partially restricted in Dadyal and Khursheedabad in Haveli.
Despite the partial return to routine business, student demonstrations continued on the campus of the Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), reflecting ongoing public grievances. Separately, the JAAC alleged that local authorities had sealed a merchant's shop in Bagh's Lari Adda, though official comments regarding the administrative action were not immediately available.
Tensions escalated significantly when unidentified armed individuals opened fire in the Qallan Bazaar area near Balouch. According to eyewitness accounts, an off-road vehicle traveled from Hajira toward Trarkhel and subsequently moved toward Balouch India Mor during the afternoon. Witnesses reported that a local resident attempting to record video footage of the vehicle was struck by gunfire and died at the scene.
Authorities have not yet established the identity of the attackers or the precise motive behind the shooting. Local sources noted that the vehicle traversed routes where no protest barricades or checkpoints had been established by the Action Committee.
The events of October 5 highlight the complex landscape of the ongoing regional crisis, characterized by the resumption of commercial activity in several districts alongside localized unrest and security concerns.
At least 25 passengers were injured when a sleeper bus overturned on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near the Maroog area on Thursday morning.
According to local reports, the passenger bus lost control while navigating a stretch of the highway, resulting in the vehicle tipping over. The exact cause of the accident is currently being ascertained by local authorities.
Police and rescue teams rushed to the site following the incident. The injured passengers were shifted to nearby healthcare facilities for treatment. Medical officials at the local hospitals reported that the condition of the wounded individuals is being monitored, though specific details regarding critical injuries were not immediately available.
Traffic movement along the strategic highway experienced brief disruptions as emergency responders cleared the wreckage from the road.
Authorities have repeatedly urged motorists and transport operators to exercise caution while traversing the hilly terrain of the highway, particularly along vulnerable stretches prone to slippery conditions and sudden loss of vehicle control.
Police have launched an investigation after the body of a 45-year-old man was recovered from the Branwar area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday morning.
Local residents spotted the body and immediately alerted local authorities. Police teams arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the information and took the body into custody for legal and medico-legal formalities.
Authorities have identified the deceased, though official details regarding the exact cause of death are awaited pending the completion of a post-mortem examination.
Police stated that an inquest proceeding has been initiated under relevant sections of the law to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further details will be shared as the investigation progresses.
A foreign national identified as Diana has recorded a judicial statement detailing an alleged gang rape in Lahore, naming three suspects and describing a night of abduction and threats.
LAHORE, Pakistan — A foreign national has recorded a detailed judicial statement under Section 164 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code, alleging she was abducted, blackmailed, and gang-raped by three men in Lahore.
The woman, identified as Diana, appeared before a magistrate to formally place her account on record. According to the judicial record, the court informed Diana that her statement could be used as evidence against her. She insisted on proceeding voluntarily, and the magistrate satisfied herself that the statement was given without any external pressure or inducement.
According to her statement, Diana arrived in Islamabad from Istanbul on September 13. After spending several days in Faisalabad, she traveled to Lahore with the intention of visiting Skardu. Traveling alone, she contacted two women, identified as Namra and Muskan, to meet in the city.
Diana stated that she met Muskan at a café at around 11:00 PM. Muskan stated that her friend Namra was waiting elsewhere, and the two subsequently traveled to Bahria Town for what was described as a meeting.
At around 2:00 AM, a white vehicle arrived carrying two men identified as Ahmad and Mohsin. The group went to an apartment, where two additional men later arrived, including one identified as Ali Zain.
Diana alleged that Namra and Mohsin entered a separate room, and Namra subsequently accepted money from Mohsin. When Diana stated she wanted to leave, Mohsin allegedly tried to touch her and locked her inside a separate room.
According to the statement, Ali Zain threatened and blackmailed Diana, demanding she consume alcohol before she could be permitted to leave. Diana stated that Mohsin, Ahmad, and Ali Zain subsequently sexually assaulted her.
Following the alleged assault, Diana said she was forced into a vehicle by Mohsin, Ahmad, and Ali Zain. Her personal belongings, including cash, an iPhone, and another mobile phone, were left inside her bag and were not returned.
She alleged that the suspects stated they would only return her belongings if she agreed not to contact law enforcement. When she insisted on involving the police, the suspects allegedly pushed her out of the moving vehicle. Bystanders came to her assistance and alerted the authorities, who arrived at the scene.
Section 164 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code enables magistrates to record pre-trial statements from witnesses and victims, which carry significant evidentiary weight during subsequent judicial proceedings.
Authorities are pursuing the suspects named in the judicial record — Ahmad, Mohsin, and Ali Zain — alongside Namra and Muskan, as the investigation into the allegations continues.
Powered by the GPT-6 Astra model, the new agents operate independently in the background, marking OpenAI’s push into autonomous workflows.
OpenAI has launched Dots, a new class of always-on artificial intelligence agents designed to operate independently in the background, marking the company’s most significant move into autonomous agent technology.
Unveiled at OpenAI’s DevDay on September 29, Dots run on the GPT-6 Astra model and feature their own dedicated cloud computer and browser. The system connects to more than 4,000 applications, allowing users to assign ongoing goals that the software pursues around the clock. Unlike traditional prompt-response interfaces, Dots are built to manage long-term tasks, adapt to feedback, and maintain progress between user interactions.
“Your dot is an always-on agent in ChatGPT that can take on ongoing responsibility and keep making progress between conversations,” OpenAI stated in its documentation.
During the keynote presentation, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the product as an assistant designed to handle continuous background operations while maintaining user-defined boundaries. The agents are accessible across desktop, web, and mobile versions of ChatGPT, as well as through workplace communication platforms including Slack and Microsoft Teams. Voice interaction is currently supported, with text messaging scheduled for a future update.
Rollout and Availability
Access to Dots is rolling out gradually to ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium subscribers in eligible regions, excluding the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom for Pro users. Enterprise, Edu, and Healthcare workspaces can access the feature via a beta program if enabled by network administrators.
The service is unavailable to ChatGPT Plus and Free tier users. According to OpenAI, the initial dot is included without extra charges for eligible plans, alongside extended usage limits during the first month of deployment. While dot creation is currently restricted to desktop applications and web browsers, established agents can be managed via mobile devices.
Operational Capabilities and Guardrails
Each dot functions on an independent cloud environment equipped with its own browser, enabling tasks to proceed even when local user devices are disconnected. Users can connect local hardware optionally, though the setting remains disabled by default and requires explicit authorization.
The system is capable of executing proactive background research using read-only access to integrated applications, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and routing complex decisions requiring human oversight back to the user. Security architecture includes custom rules to block or require approval for specific actions, an automated review layer, and mandatory confirmation protocols for sensitive tasks such as credential updates or financial transactions.
Strategic Positioning
The introduction of Dots follows similar autonomous tool releases across the technology sector, competing with Meta’s Muse and Google’s Gemini Spark. OpenAI is also piloting Specialist Dots tailored for organizational roles such as procurement and customer support, integrating enterprise governance controls through a partnership with Microsoft.
Alongside the Dots rollout, OpenAI introduced a higher-tier Pro 500 subscription plan and a cost-efficient model variant designated GPT-6.1 Sol.
Heading the Indian delegation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meetings, Alok Dimri noted it is his first trip to Pakistan as Islamabad prepares to host the main summit in August 2027.
A three-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) national coordinators concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday, drawing attention for the participation of an Indian delegation amid longstanding bilateral tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Alok Dimri, India’s national coordinator for the SCO and joint secretary in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, told Pakistani state media following the conclusion of talks that he was pleased to visit Pakistan for the first time.
Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO for the 2026–27 term earlier this month and is scheduled to host the organisation’s heads of state summit in Islamabad in August 2027.
The coordinators’ meeting, held from September 28 to 30, addressed the agenda for Pakistan’s presidency, including upcoming meeting schedules, preparatory arrangements for key events, and broader regional cooperation goals. Pakistan has chosen “Translating Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity” as the theme for its presidency, placing an emphasis on regional linkages, economic collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges.
Indian Delegation Head Expresses Desire to Visit Lahore and Sialkot
Speaking to state media in remarks shared by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X, Dimri said his initial visit had been centered on Islamabad, but he hoped to see other parts of the country.
“My first visit has been to Islamabad. I have a desire to see Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad,” Dimri said, noting that ongoing meetings would take place across various cities throughout the year and highlighting Lahore’s designation as an SCO cultural city.
Dimri also mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously called for a Civilisation Forum Dialogue during an SCO summit in Bishkek, a proposal that member states agreed to advance. He noted that the upcoming Civilisation Dialogue Forum meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on November 20.
“This is a journey where Eurasian and Asian nations have come together on the SCO platform to create an agenda for our betterment, prosperity, and well-being, in which connectivity is a very important issue,” Dimri said, adding that discussions during the Islamabad meetings also touched on regional transit and trade.
The visit marks a rare high-level diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan, which have not held formal bilateral talks for nearly a decade. The last formal dialogue occurred in December 2015, when then-Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Islamabad, before the process stalled following an attack on the Pathankot air base in January 2016.
New Delhi maintains a position that formal bilateral talks are contingent upon an environment free of terrorism, though it continues to engage with Pakistan within multilateral frameworks such as the SCO.
Broader Regional Context and Expert Perspectives
Nirupama Subramanian, a foreign affairs analyst, told the BBC that both India and Pakistan consistently participate in the SCO framework due to its inclusion of major regional powers like China and Russia.
“Both countries view it as a multilateral platform where China and Russia are also present, making participation important for each,” Subramanian said. She added that India utilises forums like the SCO and BRICS to signal its diversified foreign policy partnerships.
Elizabeth Threlkeld, senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center, also described the Indian delegation’s presence as a notable development against the backdrop of limited official contact between the two neighbours.
Pakistan’s authorities have indicated that all SCO member state leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will receive invitations to the summit scheduled for August 2027.
A Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee in Pakistan-administered Kashmir says it will make a “highly significant announcement” on October 4, extending a protest campaign that has run for months. At the centre of the same story sits a question that a court in Muzaffarabad has now taken up five times without resolution: where is Shaukat Nawaz Mir?
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), declared unlawful by authorities, has said the announcement will come as its long-running agitation continues. The committee’s leadership, however, is itself shadowed by the unexplained status of one of its most prominent figures.
A family’s petition, a government denial
Mir’s family filed a petition in the Kashmir High Court on July 15, 2026, seeking his recovery. His sister, Yasmeen Mir, told the court that her brother had been arrested and was being held in illegal detention.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir. His family says he was arrested in Dheerkot on June 30, 2026; police say he is in hiding and not in their custody. File photo.
The petition annexed a request she had submitted to Thanah City police station on July 6. In it, she said Shaukat Mir had not returned home since June 5 and had not contacted his family. She cited media reports and a video circulating on social media that showed his alleged arrest, saying the uncertainty had left the family in severe distress. She asked police to provide confirmed information about her brother and, if any legal action was required against him, to produce him before a court.
The response from the police department described the family’s position as baseless. Police told the court that a public notice had been issued describing Shaukat Mir’s physical appearance and asking anyone with information about him to come forward.
At the first hearing, no lawyer appeared for Yasmeen Mir. The court directed her to attend future hearings with counsel, after which Shahid Ali Awan was appointed to represent the petitioner.
The June 30 claim and the video
Nearly three months before the petition, on June 30, 2026, the Awami Action Committee said in a statement that Shaukat Nawaz Mir had been arrested from the Dheerkot area. A video said to show the arrest circulated on social media. The Azadi Times verifed the footage.
On the same day, several local and international news outlets reported the arrest of Shaukat Reza Mir, citing officials. Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad Munir Qureshi confirmed the arrest to BBC Urdu and other outlets.
Since that initial reporting, however, Kashmir police and the administration have maintained a different position: that Shaukat Nawaz Mir, wanted in multiple cases, is not in police or state custody. Authorities announced a reward for information about him and said he was in hiding to avoid arrest.
What was argued in court
At a hearing on September 23, Mir’s lawyer, Shahid Ali Awan, told the court he had filed three applications.
The first argued that Shaukat Nawaz Mir was arrested in the presence of the Station House Officer (SHO) of Dheerkot police station, and that a video circulating on social media showed the SHO and other police personnel taking Mir with them. On that basis, the court was asked to summon the Dheerkot SHO to explain the action visible in the video and to state whether police had arrested Mir or not.
The second application sought permission to make material contained on a USB drive part of the court record. According to Awan, the USB contains the video of Mir’s alleged arrest and an alleged statement by the then law minister, Mian Abdul Waheed, in which he was said to have described the Dheerkot arrest operation as lawful. Awan said that if the court admits the video evidence, he will also seek forensic examination of the footage.
When journalists contacted former law minister Mian Abdul Waheed, he declined to comment on the matter. In its response submitted to the court, the police department described the Dheerkot SHO’s alleged detention of Mir as baseless.
The third application sought to add Yasmeen Mir’s brother, Gul Nawaz Mir, as a petitioner in the case.
All three applications have drawn objections in the High Court.
Objections from the Advocate General
Advocate General Nadeem Khan told BBC Urdu that a request had been made to add the current petitioner’s brother as a party, but under Section 491 of the relevant law no additional person can be made a party in a petition filed under that provision.
He also said that the petitioner’s request to submit a USB drive to the court had been objected to. In his view, this is the age of artificial intelligence, and there is a concern that the alleged video on the USB could have been produced or altered with AI. That, he said, is the basis for the objection to admitting the USB as evidence.
Police position: 42 cases, a bounty, and a man in hiding
Over the past four hearings, Kashmir police submitted its comments to the court, stating that 42 cases are registered against Shaukat Nawaz Mir: three in Rawalakot district, 22 in Bagh district and 17 in the state capital Muzaffarabad. Several of the cases were filed under the anti-terrorism law.
Police informed the court that Mir is wanted for investigation in these cases but is not in the custody of police within the limits of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, nor is he imprisoned in any police station.
The police position is that the petitioner’s claim that Dheerkot police detained Mir is entirely false, baseless and contrary to the facts. According to police, the Dheerkot SHO neither carried out any such operation nor made any such arrest.
Police further told the court that the government has set a reward of Rs10 million for information leading to Mir, and that because of his prior criminal record he is hiding at an unknown location.
The Advocate General, appearing for the Kashmir government, took the same position before the court: that Shaukat Nawaz Mir is not currently in state custody and that, according to the government, he is a fugitive in hiding because of pending cases.
No progress at the fifth hearing
The fifth hearing in the case was held on Wednesday, September 30, at the Kashmir High Court.
No substantive progress was made. The Advocate General filed an application stating that he was occupied in Mirpur on September 30 and asking for time to present his arguments.
The court granted the request and adjourned the hearing until October 5. It directed the Advocate General to appear in person at the next hearing and to complete his arguments on the applications.
What remains unanswered
The case now rests on two competing accounts that the court has not yet reconciled.
The family’s position is that Shaukat Nawaz Mir was arrested, that a video and a former minister’s alleged statement support this, and that the state must produce him or confirm where he is. The government’s position is that he was never in police custody, that he is a wanted man in dozens of cases, and that he is evading arrest.
Between those two accounts lie the questions the court is still being asked to answer: what does the Dheerkot video actually show, can it be authenticated, and if Mir was not arrested, why did multiple outlets and a deputy commissioner confirm an arrest on June 30?
The next hearing is scheduled for October 5. The JAAC’s promised announcement is due a day earlier, on October 4.VI
From the Srinagar indie scene and laptop studios in South Kashmir to Sufi voices and film soundtracks, here is a curated look at the Kashmiri music circulating across streaming platforms.
Kashmiri music has seen a steady rise across streaming platforms and digital spaces, driven by independent artists, traditional Sufi performers, and contemporary collaborations. Because public charts for Kashmiri music do not formally track nationwide rankings in the same manner as mainstream global industries, curators rely on public playlists, streaming visibility, and regional popularity to gauge current listening trends.
This curated selection highlights notable tracks circulating on streaming platforms and YouTube, reflecting the diverse range of sounds emerging from the region.
**1. “Jigar Paar” – Numan Baba and Furqan Baba** Hailing from the Sarnal neighbourhood in South Kashmir, Numan Baba is part of a wave of self-taught musicians blending traditional folk poetry and instruments with hip-hop, rock, and electronic production, largely produced from home setups.
**2. “Madno” – Yawar Abdal** Yawar Abdal’s vocal work has steadily expanded its reach beyond the region, finding audiences across South Asia and the Kashmiri diaspora in Western countries.
**3. “Lakchaar” – Numan Baba and Furqan Baba** Another prominent collaboration from the South Kashmir-based duo, appearing frequently on shared playlists among independent music listeners.
**4. “Dilshad” – Yawar Abdal and Sifar** A collaborative track that sits alongside Abdal’s other widely shared works on digital streaming platforms like Spotify.
**5. “Dil Tsooran” – Masrat Un Nissa and Abhay Rustum Sopori** This track features as part of the broader project “Songs of Paradise,” bridging classical composition with regional vocal traditions.
**6. “Wasiye Gulan” – Saim Bhat** A single by independent artist Saim Bhat, representing the contemporary pop and crossover styles gaining traction among younger listeners.
**7. “Asan Kashmiri Aan” – Usman Sultani and Action Committee Tarana** Released within the current release cycle, this track focuses on themes of cultural identity, heritage, and the emotional connection of Kashmiri people to their land.
**8. “Trum Trum” – Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami** Featured as part of the independent album “Lost;Found,” showcasing modern arrangements and vocal layering.
**9. “Jaanaan” – Salim–Sulaiman, Raj Pandit, and Gulzar Ahmad Ganaie** A high-profile cross-border and cross-industry collaboration featured on the platform project “Bhoomi,” bringing traditional Kashmiri folk voices into a contemporary acoustic space.
**10. “Hoshdar” – Noor Mohammad Shah** Noor Mohammad Shah is a traditional Sufi performer from Handwara in the Kupwara district. His track “Hoshdar,” released via Renzu Music, serves as an introduction to traditional Sufi kalam for a wider digital audience.
Search for a Kashmir fast food menu and you will find restaurants in several countries carrying the name. Their menus tend to follow a familiar South Asian pattern. A Kashmir restaurant in Freiburg, for example, lists pakoras, samosas, tikka and korma. Good food, but not what is sold from stalls and bakeries in Srinagar.
The street menu in the Kashmir Valley is shorter, older and more specific to the place. It is built around the tandoor, the samovar and the seasons rather than around a standard restaurant template. Much of it is eaten standing up, wrapped in paper, or carried home still warm.
Bread and tea come first
The day begins at the neighbourhood bakery. Tandoor bakers, known as kandurs, start before dawn, selling breads such as tsot, girda and bakirkhani. Most of it is eaten with noon chai, the salted pink tea. It is made from green tea leaves, milk, salt and baking soda, and is drunk several times a day with breads such as kulcha, girda or tsochwor.
Noon chai is not a side drink in the Valley. It is a fixture of the morning, of guest hospitality and of long conversations. The pink colour comes from the reaction of baking soda with the tea leaves, not from any added colouring.
Kahwa is the lighter alternative: a green tea flavoured with saffron and almonds. Where noon chai is heavy and salty, kahwa is aromatic and often served after meals or to welcome visitors in colder weather.
Fried and grilled
The best-known snack is nadru monje. It is a fritter made from lotus stem and gram flour, and is popular in Kashmir as a street food and fast food snack. The lotus stem is sliced thin, coated in a spiced gram-flour batter and fried until crisp. It is sold at stalls and eaten with chutney, often in the evening.
Another is masala tchot: girda bread roasted in a tandoor and topped with chutneys, onions and spices. It is quick, cheap and filling, which is why it holds a firm place in the street repertoire.
For meat, the street staples are tujj (barbecue) and kebabs such as seekh kebab. These are usually sold in the evening from roadside grills, with smoke and the smell of charred meat drawing customers from across the street.
Harissa, the winter breakfast
In the cold months, the dish people queue for is harissa. It is made from mutton, rice and spices cooked to a paste-like consistency and traditionally eaten with girda. It is slow-cooked overnight in earthen pots.
Its origins are debated: it shares a name with a Middle Eastern dish and is thought to have reached the region around the 14th century. In the Valley, harissa is a winter food. It appears when the temperatures drop and disappears when the season turns, which is part of what makes it worth waiting for.
A quick reading guide
Breakfast: girda or tsot with noon chai
Snack: nadru monje, masala tchot
Grill: tujj, seekh kebab
Winter only: harissa
Drinks: noon chai, kahwa
Why the local menu matters
The gap between the international “Kashmir restaurant” menu and the Valley’s street menu is not just a matter of ingredients. It reflects how food travels. When Kashmiri cooking moves abroad, it tends to be reshaped around what travels well, what keeps, and what customers in a new country already recognise. Tikka and korma fit that brief. Nadru monje and masala tchot do not, because they depend on a tandoor, on fresh lotus stem, and on being eaten within minutes of being made.
That is why the fast food of the Valley is best understood not as a list of dishes but as a daily rhythm: bread in the morning, fritters in the evening, harissa in the winter, and tea throughout. Anyone who wants to know what a real Kashmir fast food menu looks like should start there, not with a laminated menu in another country.
