Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Saturday that the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)’s Council of Heads of Government, scheduled for October 15-16 in Islamabad, would be a "real opportunity" for India and Pakistan to "break the ice and engage constructively". In his first tweet since August 2019 – when the Centre abrogated Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir – Mirwaiz stated: "Despite increased challenges, the resolve for peaceful resolution of conflict remains stronger than ever. Generations of Kashmiris have been consumed by the uncertainty. We want an end to it, a fair closure." In his tweet, the Hurriyat chief said: "India and Pakistan have a real opportunity at the upcoming SCO Summit to break the ice and engage constructively," adding “Hope they heed to it". External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation to Pakistan for the SCO meeting. This will be the first visit to Pakistan by India's External Affairs Minister in nine years. In his post on X, Mirwaiz said that after more than five years, mostly spent under house detention, “I return to this platform with the same hope of peace and justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that I have always desired”. Mirwaiz was also allowed to give the Friday sermon at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid for the first time since September 2. In his sermon, he said the Hurriyat Conference, a political platform for separatists in Kashmir, sought "engagement with the people's sentiments for resolution" of the Kashmir issue through dialogue. In his sermon, he said: "A part of J&K is in India, a part of it in Pakistan and some part of it is with China. and both India and Pakistan claim it in totality… Our future is uncertain and the conflict continues." He said that Hurriyat “repeatedly advocates peaceful means of outreach and dialogue”, having begun “the previous framework of dialogue from (former PM Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji and (former PM) Manmohan Singh ji’s time”. Mirwaiz, who is also the Valley’s head priest, said the “return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley is a humanitarian issue” and that the Muslim majority of the Valley has a role to play in their return. "I have time and again said from this pulpit (Jamia Masjid) that the issue of Kashmiri Pandits is also a human issue. Whether the government does something or not, as a majority, as Muslims we have to work for it, we have to get them back…" he said. He also said, "I want to tell them (Kashmiri Pandits) that your saviour, your guardian is the Muslims of Kashmir… There are wounds on both sides, don't peel them, try to heal them so that we think of the future. But we can talk of the future only when our uncertain future is resolved." On the current Assembly elections in J&K being held after a gap of 10 years, Mirwaiz said during his sermon that while it may “give some relief to the people”, it would not be “a way forward to resolve the Kashmir issue”. "We also believe that civic elections for governance are no means to resolve this matter (J&K issue) and do not represent people’s aspirations and sentiments with regard to the conflict. These are two different things. Anyway, civic elections in a Union Territory are limited in giving any real power to its residents. In J&K, it (elections) was rendered almost meaningless after further amendments made to the Reorganisation Act giving further sweeping executive powers to the Lieutenant Governor," the Hurriyat chairman said. Hitting out at regional mainstream political parties for “failing to put a united flight”, Mirwaiz said, "It is unfortunate that at this crucial juncture the regional political organisations and individuals who contested could not come together and jointly fight for the great challenges before people”. He said he hoped that “these political parties and individuals will rise to the occasion and collectively prioritise people’s interest rather than personal and party interests".
