Senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called upon India to engage in a meaningful dialogue process with Pakistan for final settlement of the Kashmir dispute. According to Kashmir Media Service, in a media interview in Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq maintained that dialogue and mutual understanding, not war, are essential for resolving Indo-Pakistan tensions. He rejected the label of Hurriyat as a "separatist" organization coined by India, emphasizing that Hurriyat instead is a resolution seeker whose entire focus is on resolving the Kashmir dispute in its historical perspective. He said the abrogation of Article 370 has made Kashmiri people vulnerable to demographic engineering, loss of identity, and disempowerment. The Reorganization Act of 2019 has exacerbated these issues by granting domicile rights to outsiders. Mirwaiz highlighted that Article 370 was a constitutional commitment made by the Indian state to safeguard the land, resources, and jobs of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the Government of India's claims of peace, people are silenced due to fear of repercussions.

Extreme measures of repression, arrests, and media gags have forced people to self-censor, creating an atmosphere of intimidation. Both Hurriyat and local political parties have their own spheres of influence and approaches, and by working together, they can address pressing issues facing the territory. However, Mirwaiz noted that the distinction lies in prioritizing people's causes and interests over personal gain. To achieve peace, Mirwaiz advocates for restoring safeguards to land, resources, and jobs, creating youth opportunities, allowing self-governance, and initiating engagement for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The APHC leader shared his personal struggles under house detention since August 2019 and ongoing restrictions, including being barred from delivering Friday sermons at the central Jamia Masjid. These limitations have affected his life, work, and social reform initiatives.  The current situation demands bold action to release political prisoners, revoke draconian laws, and ensure freedom of expression and assembly, he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan