SRINAGAR: Senior Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has warned that the unresolved Kashmir dispute continues to push the region to the brink of war, threatening peace between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan and inflicting immense suffering on the Kashmiri population.
Addressing a large congregation at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader described the situation as “perilous,” citing recent escalations along the Line of Control (LoC) that left civilians homeless and traumatized.
“We have just witnessed how close we came to another all-out war,” said Mirwaiz. “Even the so-called ‘limited escalation’ caused devastation, especially for those living near the LoC. Their homes, lives, and livelihoods are in ruins.”
The prominent cleric and political figure called for the recently announced ceasefire between India and Pakistan to be upheld and converted into a permanent peace framework. He appealed to both governments to engage in a sincere and result-oriented dialogue aimed at resolving the decades-old Kashmir dispute, which he emphasized is essential for lasting peace and development in South Asia.
Mirwaiz noted that the Kashmir issue is widely recognized by the international community as a “nuclear flashpoint,” and reiterated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir yearn for a peaceful and just resolution.
He expressed hope that the current ceasefire could lay the groundwork for meaningful diplomatic engagement and help steer the region away from another dangerous confrontation.
