Shillong: Kashmiri religious leader Mirwaiz Maulana Umar Farooq spoke out on Wednesday regarding the violent unrest unfolding across the Line of Control. Deaths of civilians and police officers in areas including Rawalakot and Poonch prompted his statement on X. People are dying. The violence must stop.
The Mirwaiz noted his family has deep historical ties to the region. He emphasized that governance relies on the trust of the governed. He wrote, "Deeply saddened and pained by reports of loss of life of civilians and police personnel in the continuing unrest on the other side of the LOC, especially in Rawalakot and Poonch." He asked the Pakistani government and local officials to choose dialogue over confrontation while prioritizing human rights.
Protests hit their 37th day. Thousands marched in Rawalakot on Tuesday where Joint Awami Action Committee leader Sardar Amman Khan took a hard line against Islamabad. He rejected the standard narrative, arguing the area is not merely disputed. He stated, "This is not a disputed territory. It is an occupied territory. It is forcibly occupied." The Mirwaiz closed his message with an appeal for wisdom and a swift return to stability for all people living on both sides of the line.
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