SRINAGAR: Kashmiri photojournalist Yasir Iqbal has won the World Press Photo Contest 2026 in the West, Central and South Asia – Singles category for his compelling image depicting grief in conflict-affected Jammu and Kashmir.
Congratulations, Yasir, for winning the World Press Photo Award 2026 in the West Asia region.
Outlook photographer Yasir Iqbal has won the award for his photograph titled “A Daughter’s Grief in Kashmir.”
The image was used as the cover of Outlook’s May 21, 2025 issue titled… pic.twitter.com/IEIb4k13ON
— Outlook India (@Outlookindia) April 9, 2026
The winning photograph, titled “A Daughter’s Grief in Kashmir,” captures 21-year-old Sanam Bashir collapsing in sorrow during her mother’s funeral in Uri. Her mother, Nargis Begum (45), died due to shrapnel injuries after a mortar shell hit while the family was fleeing their home on May 9, 2025.
The image was published on the cover of Outlook Magazine’s May 21, 2025 edition, titled “Is It War?”, and reflects the human toll of a brief but intense escalation between India and Pakistan.
In a post on X, Outlook congratulated Iqbal, stating that the issue examined a four-day standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours that brought them close to open conflict. The escalation followed Indian strikes on alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam.
The confrontation included four days of airstrikes, drone attacks, and cross-border firing, resulting in multiple fatalities before both sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire.
Outlook also noted that parts of Indian television media amplified the conflict with highly dramatized coverage and intense studio debates during the crisis period.
The World Press Photo jury praised Iqbal’s work for its emotional depth and storytelling strength, highlighting the human suffering behind geopolitical tensions.
The World Press Photo Contest is an annual, non-profit global competition established in 1955 that honours excellence in professional photojournalism and documentary photography. It uses a regional judging system covering Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia/Oceania, and recognises work across categories such as Singles, Stories, and Long-Term Projects. Winners receive international recognition, including publication, exhibition in a global travelling showcase, and exposure to a worldwide audience.
