Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Urges Dialogue and Restraint Over Unrest in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir

SRINAGAR/MUZAFFARABAD: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed grief over the reported loss of civilian lives in the continuing unrest in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir, urging the Government of Pakistan and the local administration to prioritise dialogue, restraint and political engagement over confrontation.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Mirwaiz said he was “deeply saddened and pained” by reports of deaths in areas across the Line of Control, particularly in Rawalakot and Poonch. He offered prayers for the bereaved families and all those affected by the violence.

His statement came as fresh clashes were reported in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir ahead of a planned protest march linked to the Joint Awami Action Committee movement. Reuters reported that nine people were killed on Tuesday in clashes between security forces and supporters of the banned protest group, while local estimates placed the wider unrest death toll since June at around 30 or more.

Mirwaiz also expressed concern over the ongoing debate surrounding political representation and the constitutional status of Kashmiri State Subjects residing in Pakistan. The current protest movement has focused partly on 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees living elsewhere in Pakistan, a system protesters say affects local representation in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir.

He said questions related to identity, representation and political rights require sensitivity, dialogue and broad public confidence. According to Mirwaiz, the legitimacy of any governance system ultimately depends on the consent and trust of the people it serves.

Referring to the shared history and family ties across the Line of Control, Mirwaiz said developments in one part of Jammu Kashmir are deeply felt in other parts of the region and among Kashmiri diaspora communities around the world.

He added that his family has longstanding historical associations with the social, educational, religious and political development of communities across Jammu Kashmir, including those living on the Pakistan-administered side of the Line of Control.

Mirwaiz said he had received expressions of anguish and distress from people across the Line of Control regarding the unrest. He urged the Government of Pakistan and the local government in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir to resolve differences through consultation and accommodation, with human rights and the sanctity of human life kept above all other considerations.

He also appealed to the protesting parties to exercise wisdom and responsibility, saying both sides should work towards restoring peace and public confidence at the earliest.

The statement is significant because it reflects concern from the Indian-administered side of Jammu Kashmir over the continuing unrest in Pakistan-administered areas. It also highlights the cross-LoC social and political reality of Jammu Kashmir, where families, communities and political histories remain connected despite decades of division.

The Joint Awami Action Committee-led movement began with public demands over electricity tariffs, subsidised flour and living costs, but later expanded into broader questions of governance, political representation and constitutional rights. Authorities have banned the group under anti-terror laws, while protest leaders and supporters maintain that the movement represents public rights and local political grievances.

Mirwaiz concluded his statement by praying for lasting peace and stability for all people of Jammu Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control, and for a resolution of the wider Jammu Kashmir issue.