Kashmir Cleric Mirwaiz Urges Modi to Pursue Dialogue with Pakistan

In his Friday sermon at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar, Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy in resolving issues with Pakistan. Referring to Mr. Modi's status as one of the longest-serving prime ministers of independent India, the Mirwaiz expressed hope that the Prime Minister would revive the spirit of engagement seen under previous leaders.

“PM Modi is today among the longest-serving leaders in independent India. When he assumed office, the PM spoke of regional cooperation and demonstrated an interest in improving relations with neighbouring countries. Those gestures generated hope across South Asia,” the Mirwaiz said.

With reports emerging of renewed efforts to resume diplomatic talks between India and Pakistan, the Mirwaiz urged a return to the approach of former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. “I hope that the spirit of engagement that informed PM Modi earlier, and the efforts under leaders such as former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, once again finds expression,” he stated.

The Mirwaiz acknowledged that achieving peace is challenging but emphasised that “dialogue and diplomacy demand patience and remain the most reliable instruments for resolving issues and securing a better future.”

He reflected on past engagements between separatist Hurriyat leaders and Mr. Vajpayee, former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, and Mr. Singh. “While differences remained, those engagements reflected an important principle: dialogue itself has value. It reduces mistrust, humanises opposing perspectives and creates possibilities that otherwise remain closed,” the Mirwaiz said.

Commenting on the recent confrontation between the United States and Israel with Iran, the Mirwaiz noted that military force has its limits. “Wars can alter circumstances and inflict immense suffering, but durable peace and lasting solutions ultimately require dialogue, negotiation and statesmanship,” he added.

He praised Pakistan and Qatar for creating an environment conducive to dialogue, observing that adversaries often return to the negotiating table. “It is not a sign of weakness on either side. It reflected the reality that disputes cannot be resolved through force alone,” he said.

Drawing parallels to South Asia, the Mirwaiz highlighted the region's potential and the cost of prolonged tensions. “Our region is home to nearly one-fourth of humanity. It possesses immense civilisational wealth, extraordinary human resources and enormous economic potential. Yet for decades, political tensions, mistrust and unresolved issues have prevented the peoples of this region from fully realising these possibilities. Societies suffer not only economically, but also emotionally and psychologically,” he said.

The Mirwaiz recalled that his father, Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, who was assassinated in 1990, was a strong advocate of justice and dialogue over violence. “The Awami Action Committee and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference have consistently, for more than 36 years, upheld this principle despite facing odds and pushback. Sustainable peace cannot emerge from wars, force or violence. Lasting solutions require engagement, understanding and the courage to listen even to those with whom one disagrees,” he said.

In a separate part of his sermon, the Mirwaiz drew lessons from the tragedy of Karbala, commemorated by Shia Muslims during Muharram. He described it as “not merely a chapter of history, but an eternal lesson in truth, patience, justice and sacrifice.” “Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was not in search of war or confrontation. He stood for the principle that differences must be addressed through truth, adherence to the principles of Islam and sincerity through conversation,” the Mirwaiz added.