Srinagar, Oct 30 (JKNS): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Friday said that although the decline in violence in Jammu and Kashmir is welcome, lasting peace cannot be achieved without justice, reconciliation, restoration of civil liberties and rebuilding public trust, stressing that the Kashmir issue requires meaningful political engagement rather than a security-centric approach alone.
Mirwaiz Kashmir, while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, referred to the recently released International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir and said, “The International Crisis Group, a respected international organisation working on conflict prevention and resolution, has last week released an important report on Jammu and Kashmir. I believe its findings deserve serious attention.
The report says that militancy, street protests and violence have declined in recent years, which everyone welcomes, as no one understands the value of peace more than the people of Kashmir, who have suffered enormously over the past several decades.
But the report also makes a fundamental point: reduction in violence does not necessarily mean that underlying political grievances have been resolved, or that public confidence has been restored.
Security is necessary, and the government has a responsibility to protect lives. But security measures alone cannot provide a lasting answer to a problem that also has deep political and human dimensions.
Kashmir still remains one of the most militarised places on earth.
One of the most disturbing aspects highlighted in the report is the scale of arrests and detentions since 2019.
Quoting Union Home Ministry’s figures, Mirwiaz said, 3,662 people were arrested under UAPA in Jammu and Kashmir between 2019 and 2023, while only 23 convictions were recorded during that period. He said that, these figures raise serious questions about prolonged detention, due process and the widespread use of stringent laws.
Thousands of families suffer the consequences of arrests, detentions and prolonged legal proceedings. They continue to live with uncertainty about the future of their loved ones.
The continued incarceration of Kashmiri political prisoners, including Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Shahid Ul Islam , Engineer Rashid , Asiya Andrabi,Masrat Alam, and many others, who have spent years behind bars, often in prisons far away from their homes and families, remains a matter of concern.
We have repeatedly appealed for their release, review of their cases and humanitarian consideration towards elderly and ailing prisoners. I reiterate that appeal today.
Justice and compassion cannot be separated from the pursuit of peace.
The report also raises concerns about restrictions on political and civic activities, the shrinking space for peaceful expression, curbs on free reporting and a growing feeling of alienation.
These are concerns that should not be brushed aside.
If the situation has improved, as is being acknowledged, should it not also be an opportunity to ease restrictions, review detentions, restore civil liberties and create an environment in which people can express their views and grievances peacefully?
Peace cannot simply be measured by the absence of protests.
The report calls for the 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.
Our consistent position has been that the Kashmir issue cannot be addressed through a security approach alone. Political issues require political engagement, and longstanding grievances require sincere efforts at reconciliation.
While governments have their own security concerns and responsibilities, But the concerns and aspirations of the people are equally important and must find a place in any meaningful process towards peace.
The events of last year once again demonstrated the dangers of confrontation between India and Pakistan. We have always maintained that dialogue, rather than confrontation, remains 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.
If meaningful progress has 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.” (JKNS)
