Chief of bureau of HT at Srinagar, Toufiq has been covering the volatile state of Kashmir for the past seven years. Was working as special correspondent in Indian Express in New Delhi, covering health and wellness. Has done human interest stories from across the country for almost a decade.
Articles by Toufiq Rashid
Militants got mobile connections issued in genuine names
The pre-paid SIM cards that militants in Kashmir use to talk to their handlers across the border were mostly issued in the name of genuine customers, albeit without their knowledge.
Updated on Jan 10, 2010 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Hotel employees rescued after night-long ordeal
At the crack of dawn, the encounter over, a group of 15 people was quietly herded out of Punjab Hotel at Lal Chowk, ground zero of the gun-battle between crack commandos and fidayeen (Arabic for one who is prepared to die for the cause) militants.
Updated on Jan 08, 2010 12:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Kashmiri school students swear by communal harmony
Although those born during the years of violence in the valley might not be exposed to the composite Kashmiri culture, but for the 15 to 18 year olds in the valley, the plurality of religion and the Hindu-Muslim co-existence is still the ethos of Kashmiri culture.
Updated on Jan 06, 2010 12:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Project snow leopard in J&K
On the lines of project tiger, a project to save another critically endangered cat specie; the snow leopard has been formally launched in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, which, for the first time, will focus on conservation beyond the 'national parks'.
Updated on Jan 03, 2010 12:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Cross-LoC trade stops
Traders in Kashmir and Poonch have suspended cross-border trade on the Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes, along the state’s western border, for at least a week.
Updated on Dec 30, 2009 11:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
AIIMS row shadow on Shopian case
A forensic expert from the AIIMS in Delhi alleged on Tuesday that his colleagues —who had declared the Shopian deaths as drowning — were not professionally competent.
Updated on Dec 16, 2009 12:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Shopian women not murdered, says CBI
The CBI on Monday said in its final report that the two women allegedly raped and murdered in Shopian in south Kashmir on May 29, actually died by drowning.
Updated on Dec 14, 2009 11:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Bid to save talks with Hurriyat
Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday got down to firefighting, condemning the “cowardly assault” on All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Fazal Haq Qureshi on Friday, report Aloke Tikku and Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Dec 06, 2009 12:37 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aloke Tikku and Toufiq Rashid, Delhi/srinagar
Peace process target, Hurriyat leader Qureshi shot at
Senior moderate leader Fazal Haq Qureshi was shot at on Friday by unidentified gunmen in Srinagar. The attack, being seen as a violent warning to the Mirwaiz against his initiative to hold talks with the Centre, came two days after Home Minister P Chidambaram said that there were positive responses to the talks offer. Toufiq Rashid and Peerzada Ashiq report.
Updated on Dec 05, 2009 02:05 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid and Peerzada Ashiq, Srinagar
Violence in Kashmir a boon for rare species
While years of violence have been detrimental to Kashmir in all respects, there is a silver lining. The Valley, known for its natural beauty and enormous habitat, has seen manifold increase in wildlife in the years of violence. Toufiq Rashid reports...
Updated on Dec 03, 2009 09:45 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Saving Dal Lake, naturally
The Jammu & Kashmir government is planning a 3-km-long and a 150-metre-wide reed zone on the shores of the shrinking lake to treat the sewage coming from the catchment areas before the water gets into the lake.
Updated on Nov 23, 2009 01:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
China has a stake in Kashmir: Hurriyat leader
Welcoming the US-China approach on Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Beijing has a 'stake in the peace in the region'. Mirwaiz plans visit to Beijing
Updated on Nov 20, 2009 11:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Asiatic bears in Kashmir being studied through satellite images
Linking the behavioural change in the habitat to climate change, the wildlife department is studying the impact of the climate change by monitoring the wildbears with satellite collars, reports Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Nov 14, 2009 04:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Kashmir tulips find takers in Dubai this Valentine's Day
For Kashmiri tulips, it may be destination Dubai this year and Holland the next. While the cultivators in Kashmir are exploring the Dubai market to supply tulips this Valentine's, negotiations are also on with Holland , known for tulips across the world, who is looking at the valley to outsource flowers when their own are not ready. Toufiq Rashid examines...
Updated on Nov 13, 2009 03:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Low carb diet may land you in depression
A very low carbohydrate diet, seen as a sure shot way to shed weight, may not be good for your mental health. It can cause depression, anxiety and mood swings, warn researchers.
Updated on Nov 11, 2009 02:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Tropical summers in Kashmir, courtesy global warming
In the latest proof of hastening climate change in India, an as-yet-unreleased study by the University of Kashmir shows 11 of the last 15 years have been the hottest in recorded history in the Valley. Toufiq Rashid reports.
Updated on Nov 07, 2009 12:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Bear kills two top Hizb militants in Kashmir
In a first of the kind, two top Hizbul Mujahideen commanders have been killed in an encounter with wild bear in Shopian district of the South Kashmir, reports Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Nov 03, 2009 12:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
‘Paper visa’ row: India holds back China-bound J&K academic
Officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi prevented a prominent Kashmiri academic from boarding a flight to Beijing on Saturday night, refusing to recognise his Chinese visa.
Updated on Nov 03, 2009 01:05 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
No pre-paid phones in J&K
Citing security concerns, the Union home ministry has banned prepaid mobile phone services in Jammu and Kashmir, a decision that is likely to affect more than 25 lakh mobile phone users in the state, report Toufiq Rashid and Ashiq Hussain.
Updated on Oct 31, 2009 12:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid and Ashiq Hussain, Srinagar
PM sees 'new chapter' in J&K as more troops leave
Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated his offer of talks made to both the separatists and Pakistan, without ‘pre-conditions’. Toufiq Rashid reports.
Updated on Oct 30, 2009 08:21 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
PM reaches out to J&K, Pak
Reaching out to Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said New Delhi was ready to talk with Islamabad for peace in the region. He asked Pakistan to keep all anti-India groups under control and not let its soil be used for terror activities. Speech highlights
Updated on Oct 29, 2009 01:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Anantnag
Brazil’s Santos seek trainees from J&K
Brazil, the five-time world champions, will, in all probability, welcome a footballer from Kashmir very soon. Sounds strange. But Santos Fotebal Clube, the club where the legendary Pele started his, has invited Juan Marcos Toria, a Brazilian, who is in Kashmir to train youngsters, reports Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Oct 27, 2009 11:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Top Hizb commander killed in Valley
Security forces claimed a major success in Jammu & Kashmir on Monday with the killing of Mohhamed Sidiq Dar alias Saquib, militant group Hizbul Mujahideen’s top commander in the Valley and the second man in its hierarchy.
Updated on Oct 27, 2009 02:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
J&K CM seeks visa extension for coach
In an unusual communiqué to the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has written to the Home Ministry urging it to allow a Brazilian football coach, training youth in the Valley for over two years, to stay on, reports Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Oct 22, 2009 11:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
J&K cricketer puts it down to God’s will
Twenty-year-old Parvez Rasool was the highest scorer for Jammu and Kashmir under-22 team last year, including two back-to-back centuries. He did so well that he forced himself into the Ranji side, even if it was only for the last match of the season, reports Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Oct 21, 2009 12:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Withdraw forces, says Geelani
Now that both the separatist and mainstream political parties in Kashmir appear to be agreeing upon a dialogue, the state is finding it tough to curb the Valley’s only dissenting voice.
Updated on Oct 20, 2009 12:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Dropped players may have framed Rasool
The cricket authorities in Jammu & Kashmir had received hints before Parvez Rasool’s arrest in Bangalore that some people were mischievously trying to project him as a terrorist.
Updated on Oct 20, 2009 07:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Amir Karim Tantray and Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Cholesterol drugs can cut infections
It is good news for diabetics and people suffering from heart ailments. Cholesterol-lowering drugs — statins— prescribed to these patients, can also protect them from pneumonia, sepsis and other infections.
Updated on Oct 20, 2009 12:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Cricketer fiasco stumps all
A day after two cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir were detained and questioned in Bangalore, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and president of the state cricket body Farooq Abdullah called for a probe in the matter, reports Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Oct 19, 2009 12:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar
Bad news: Glaciers in J&K melting faster than others
Environment specialists have long warned that the Himalayan glaciers, a source of water to rivers that flow across India, China, Bangladesh and Burma, are melting faster than the glaciers in the rest of the world, writes Toufiq Rashid.
Updated on Oct 13, 2009 02:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Toufiq Rashid, Srinagar