Kashmir experience shows confrontation only brings suffering, talks inevitable: Mirwaiz
Srinagar: Senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that his experience of the Kashmir dispute has reinforced his belief that prolonged confrontation only causes greater suffering and that unresolved disputes must eventually return to the negotiating table.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, speaking to reporters in Srinagar after a meeting of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema stressed that lasting peace in conflict-hit regions can only be achieved through justice, dialogue and diplomacy. He warned that wars and geopolitical tensions are spreading across the world.
Mirwaiz said the ground reality contradicted claims that the present era was not an era of war, as conflicts continued to cause instability and suffering in different parts of the world, including South Asia, West Asia, Europe, Ukraine and Sudan.
He said efforts for de-escalation must be pursued seriously and expressed hope that diplomatic initiatives would help restore peace in West Asia. He maintained that confrontation could not resolve disputes and that difficult issues ultimately had to be addressed through engagement and negotiations.
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Mirwaiz also spoke about his interaction with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. He said conveyed solidarity from the people of Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that peace could not be established without justice.
He highlighted the centuries-old historical, cultural, religious and civilisational links between Iran and Kashmir, saying the Iranian leadership had expressed interest in visiting Kashmir and interacting with its people.
In a letter conveyed to the Iranian president through the foreign minister, Mirwaiz called for restraint, engagement and diplomacy amid escalating regional tensions. He also urged that the conflict should not become a source of division among Muslims and stressed the need for unity beyond sectarian and political differences.
Meanwhile, the MMU meeting discussed growing social problems in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly suicide and drug abuse. Mirwaiz said the organisation would expand coordination among mosques, madrassas, local institutions and NGOs to address these challenges.
He said the MMU had decided to visit one district every month and issue joint sermons from major mosques, mosques and Imambargahs on various social issues.
