Srinagar, Oct 30 (KNO): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said declining violence in Jammu and Kashmir was welcome but could not be equated with lasting peace, stressing that justice, reconciliation, restoration of civil liberties and meaningful political engagement were essential to rebuilding public trust.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar, referred to the recently released International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir and said its findings deserved serious attention.
He said the report noted that militancy, street protests and violence had declined in recent years, which was welcome, as the people of Kashmir understood the value of peace after suffering enormously over the past several decades.
However, the report also made a fundamental point that a reduction in violence did not necessarily mean that underlying political grievances had been resolved or public confidence restored, he said.
Mirwaiz said security was necessary and the government had a responsibility to protect lives, but security measures alone could not provide a lasting solution to a problem that also had deep political and human dimensions.
He said Kashmir continued to remain one of the most militarised places on earth, adding that one of the most disturbing aspects highlighted in the report was the scale of arrests and detentions since 2019.
According to the Union Home Ministry's figures, 3,662 people were arrested under the UAPA in Jammu and Kashmir between 2019 and 2023, while only 23 convictions were recorded during that period. These figures raised serious questions about prolonged detention, due process and the widespread use of stringent laws, he said.
Mirwaiz said thousands of families continued to suffer the consequences of arrests, detentions and prolonged legal proceedings, living with uncertainty about the future of their loved ones.
He also expressed concern over the continued incarceration of Kashmiri political prisoners, including Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Shahid Ul Islam, Engineer Rashid, Asiya Andrabi and Masrat Alam, who, he said, had spent years behind bars, often in prisons far away from their homes and families. “We have repeatedly appealed for their release, review of their cases and humanitarian consideration towards elderly and ailing prisoners. I reiterate that appeal today,” he said.
“Justice and compassion cannot be separated from the pursuit of peace,” he added.
The spokesperson said Mirwaiz also flagged concerns raised in the report over restrictions on political and civic activities, shrinking space for peaceful expression, curbs on free reporting and a growing sense of alienation.
He said if the situation had improved, it should also provide an opportunity to ease restrictions, review detentions, restore civil liberties and create an environment where people could express their views and grievances peacefully.
“Peace cannot simply be measured by the absence of protests,” Mirwaiz said.
He said the report called for restoration of statehood, meaningful powers for the elected government, a review of stringent anti-terror laws and renewed dialogue between India and Pakistan. “These are important recommendations that deserve serious consideration,” he said, adding that the Kashmir issue could not be addressed through a security approach alone, as political issues required political engagement and longstanding grievances called for sincere efforts at reconciliation.
Mirwaiz said while governments had their own security concerns and responsibilities, the concerns and aspirations of the people were equally important and must find a place in any meaningful process towards peace.
Referring to the events of last year, he said they had once again demonstrated the dangers of confrontation between India and Pakistan, maintaining that dialogue rather than confrontation remained the most responsible way forward. “I raise these issues not in a spirit of confrontation, but out of genuine concern for the future of our people,” he said.
He added that if meaningful progress had been made in improving security, the next step should be to build upon it through reconciliation, release and review of political prisoners, restoration of civil liberties and sincere political engagement. “The real measure of peace is not merely how much violence has declined, but how much trust has been restored. That is the message we should take from this report,” he said.—(KNO)