J&K: Three Kashmiri universities terminate MoUs with US NGO over ‘security concerns’

SRINAGAR: Three universities in Kashmir have terminated academic agreements with US-based NGO Kashmir Care Foundation (KCF) following an internal review as intelligence agencies raised concerns over their activities.The University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and Sher-Kashmir University of Agriculture and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K) issued orders canceling the MoU with KCF Atlanta. Kashmir University and SKUAST-K did so on March 25 and IUST the next day.Naseer Iqbal, provost of Kashmir University, wrote to KCF chairman Altaf K Lal stating that the MoU was signed on December 15, 2025 “with the aim of furthering educational initiatives through workshops, seminars and other academic activities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) humanities and allied fields”.Officials said the termination followed “negative publicity” and highlighted growing caution about cooperation with foreign institutions, especially in areas such as technology, research and data sharing.“The competent authority has reviewed the MoU and determined that its continued implementation would not be in the larger institutional interest of the University,” the Registrar’s letter stated.Registrar Iqbal said KCF was run by US-based Kashmiri Altaf, adding that the MoU had a termination clause. “We have taken the decision at our discretion to terminate the project as we believe it is not advisable to (continue) the project for a number of reasons,” Iqbal said, declining to give specific details.The three universities made it clear that no money was exchanged and no liabilities were incurred during the period of the MoU.