On Muharram, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s appeal to Narendra Modi: ‘Revive spirit of engagement’
Highlighting the efforts of previous prime ministers across political dispensations, including AB Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh, he said that while differences remained, those engagements reflected an important principle, “dialogue itself has value”.
“Peace may be difficult. Dialogue may be slow. Diplomacy may demand patience. Yet these remain the most reliable instruments for resolving issues and securing a better future,” he said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday urged the Prime Minister to “revive the spirit of engagement” with Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, Mirwaiz said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now among the longest-serving leaders in independent India. “When he assumed office, he spoke of regional cooperation and demonstrated an interest in improving relations with neighbouring countries. Those gestures generated hope across South Asia,” he said.
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Highlighting the efforts of previous prime ministers across political dispensations, including AB Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh, he said that 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,” he said.
Mirwaiz expressed the hope that the spirit of engagement that informed Modi earlier and the efforts under leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh, once again finds expression.
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“Peace may be difficult. Dialogue may be slow. Diplomacy may demand patience. Yet these remain the most reliable instruments for resolving issues and securing a better future,” he said.
Referring to recent global developments, Mirwaiz said the United States-Israel confrontation with Iran is a reminder that military force, however overwhelming, has its limits. He added that this lesson is especially relevant for South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan.
Pointing to decades of political tensions, mistrust and unresolved issues, among the two national, he said that his own efforts, whether through the Awami Action Committee (now banned) that he inherited from his father, or later through the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), he has consistently, for more than 36 years, “upheld this principle despite facing odds and pushback”.
“Peace may be difficult. Dialogue may be slow. Diplomacy may demand patience. Yet these remain the most reliable instruments for resolving issues and securing a better future,” he said.
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