Three Kashmir Universities Terminate Academic Agreements with US-based KCF; MoUs Cancelled

April 13, 2026

Three major universities in Kashmir have terminated their academic agreements with the Kashmir Care Foundation (KCF)—a US-based non-profit organisation headquartered in Atlanta. According to officials, this step was taken after certain “adverse inputs” surfaced during an internal review.

MoUs Cancelled with Immediate Effect
These institutions namely the University of Kashmir, the Islamic University of Science and Technology, and the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir have issued formal orders over the past few weeks to cancel their Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and related agreements with immediate effect, following adverse intelligence reports.

The Kashmir Care Foundation (KCF) is an Atlanta-based non-profit organisation whose primary objective is to empower Kashmiri students and professionals through initiatives in education, mentorship, and healthcare.

According to its official website, the Kashmir Care Foundation claims to address existing gaps for Kashmiri students by providing them access to international expertise in the fields of education, technology, and healthcare. Its core focus areas include mental health, STEM, and capacity building.

Three Universities Cite Different Reasons for Cancelling MoUs
The organisation had also launched its “KCF-MenTOR” program, which connects students with experts in fields such as banking, clinical psychology, and media, and promises to conduct regular webinars on health-related topics and career development.

The foundation was established by Dr. Altaf Lal, with Dr. Mushtaq Margoob serving as a member and Dr. Ram A. Vishwakarma as an advisor. However, the official documents issued by the three universities cite differing reasons for the cancellation of the MoUs.

A letter from the University of Kashmir states that it cancelled its MoU following a review conducted by competent authorities, which concluded that continuing this arrangement was not in the broader interest of the institution. It was further clarified that no financial or academic liabilities were incurred during the tenure of the agreement. Faculty Members Distance Themselves from KCF

Similarly, the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) cited the provisions of its agreement to annul the MoU, stating that no contractual or financial obligations had arisen between the two parties.

At SKUAST-K, a ‘Letter of Agreement’ signed in April 2025 was revoked through an official memorandum issued by its Directorate of Research, signaling a complete severance of ties with the Foundation.

These developments have created a stir in academic circles, and faculty members associated with this collaboration have formally distanced themselves from KCF. Emails accessed by a news agency reveal that academics from IUST wrote to the Foundation, clarifying that their association was strictly in accordance with the university’s directives and that they possessed no prior knowledge of the organization before engaging in this collaboration. They have also requested the removal of their profiles and the cessation of all channels of communication.