Kashmir's chief preacher urges India, Pakistan to resume dialogue, citing US-Iran talks

Kashmir's chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday reiterated that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving disputes, urging the leadership of India and Pakistan to return to the negotiating table.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mirwaiz referenced ongoing efforts to revive dialogue between the United States and Iran, stating that if those two nations can engage after escalation, India and Pakistan can also sit together to resolve issues.

“It was in this context that last Friday at Jamia Masjid I said that if Iran and the United States can come to the negotiating table, after escalation, then India and Pakistan can also sit together and talk to resolve issues. In this spirit, I appealed to the leadership of India to embrace the path of dialogue, because wars do not resolve disputes. It is through dialogue that issues are addressed and resolved,” he said.

Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on June 26, Mirwaiz had called for dialogue and statesmanship in South Asia, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as one of India’s longest-serving leaders, could revive the spirit of engagement.

“People should understand the context in which I made those remarks. I believe that today our region holds immense potential. The Indian subcontinent possesses tremendous economic opportunities and abundant human resources. The entire region can move forward and prosper if only the leadership of the subcontinent demonstrates political vision and works towards improving mutual relations,” he added.

Asserting that friendship between India and Pakistan offers the best path toward resolving longstanding issues, including the Kashmir conflict, Mirwaiz expressed hope that the leadership of India, Pakistan, and Kashmir will support such efforts to strengthen peace and resolve issues through peaceful means.