Last updated: 6/20/2026
Kashmiriat believes that readers have the right to know who owns, operates, and funds the platform.
Transparency is essential to editorial independence and public trust.
Ownership
Kashmiriat.com was launched in 2016 as a digital initiative dedicated to documenting Kashmiri voices, history, culture, politics, and memory.
The platform was initially launched by Zafar Rathore, an IT professional committed to the Kashmiri cause, with support from Jawad Ahmed Paras.
Zafar Rathore led the early technical development of the website. After his relocation to the United States, the project experienced a temporary pause. In late 2017, Jawad Ahmed Paras took full charge of reviving and continuing Kashmiriat.com.
Today, Kashmiriat is operated as an independent media and archive platform focused on the conflict, culture, history, memory, and socio-political life of the historical State of Jammu Kashmir.
Current Operation
Kashmiriat is currently operated by:
Editor / Responsible Person: Jawad Ahmed Paras
Technical Founder / Initial Developer: Zafar Rathore
Editorial Contact: editorial@kashmiriat.com
Additional team members, contributors, editors, researchers, and advisors may be added to the Masthead as the platform grows.
Editorial Independence
Kashmiriat is editorially independent.
No government, political party, state institution, armed group, donor, advertiser, pressure network, company, or individual supporter has the right to control what Kashmiriat publishes, edits, removes, investigates, or refuses to publish.
Editorial decisions are made by the editorial team based on public interest, evidence, relevance, safety, and editorial standards.
Funding
Kashmiriat is currently [self-funded / volunteer-run / supported by personal resources].
At this stage, Kashmiriat does not receive regular institutional funding from any government, political party, state agency, or organization.
If Kashmiriat receives grants, donations, sponsorships, advertising, memberships, or other financial support in the future, this page will be updated to reflect that information.
Advertising and Sponsored Content
Kashmiriat may accept ethical advertising or sponsorship in the future, but advertisers will not be allowed to influence editorial decisions.
Any sponsored content, paid partnership, or advertisement must be clearly labelled.
Kashmiriat will not knowingly accept advertising or sponsorship that compromises its editorial independence, promotes hatred, exploits vulnerable communities, or misleads readers.
Donations and Reader Support
Kashmiriat may develop a reader-supported model through donations, memberships, or community contributions.
Reader support, if accepted, will not give donors control over editorial decisions.
Donors may support the mission of Kashmiriat, but they may not decide what we publish.
Grants and Partnerships
Kashmiriat may collaborate with journalists, researchers, academic institutions, cultural organizations, archives, civil society groups, or media partners when such collaboration supports public-interest journalism, cultural preservation, documentation, or research.
Any partnership that affects published work will be disclosed where appropriate.
Kashmiriat will not enter partnerships that require political control, censorship, hidden influence, or editorial compromise.
Conflict of Interest
Editors, contributors, and team members are expected to disclose conflicts of interest that may affect their editorial work.
This includes political affiliations, organizational roles, donor relationships, employment, financial interests, family connections, or direct involvement in the subject being covered.
Annual Transparency
As Kashmiriat grows, we aim to publish periodic transparency updates explaining:
- How the platform is funded
- Major partnerships, if any
- Editorial changes
- Corrections and accountability practices
- Major projects and future plans
Contact
For questions about ownership, funding, advertising, partnerships, or editorial independence, contact: