Mirwaiz Umar Farooq calls for dialogue, justice, reconciliation, hails International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday called for restoration of civil liberties, asserting that decline in violence is welcome but lasting peace requires justice, reconciliation and restoration of public trust.

He called for release of political prisoners and meaningful political engagement urging the government to seriously consider the latest report of International Crisis Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

Mirwaiz while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid in downtown Srinagar, said that International Crisis Group is a respected international organisation working on conflict prevention and resolution and its findings deserve serious attention.


The report says that militancy, street protests and violence have declined in recent years, which everyone welcomes, but the also makes a fundamental point that reduction in violence does not necessarily mean that underlying political grievances have been resolved, or that public confidence has been restored.

"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," said Mirwaiz adding, "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."

Mirwaiz while reffering to the report said that Kashmir still remains one of the most militarised places on earth and one of the most disturbing aspects highlighted in the report is the scale of arrests and detentions since 2019.

According to the Union Home Ministry’s figures, 3,662 people were arrested under UAPA in Jammu and Kashmir between 2019 and 2023, while only 23 convictions were recorded during that period. "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," said Mirwaiz.

He said that 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," said Mirwaiz.

The CGI 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," said Mirwaiz.

The CGI 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. Mirwaiz stated that the events of 2025 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," said Mirwaiz.

He said that 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," said Mirwaiz.