Legacy of dialogue process pursued by Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh needs to be revived: Mirwaiz
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday (July 6, 2026) said the legacy of the dialogue process pursued during the tenures of former Prime
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday (July 6, 2026) said the legacy of the dialogue process pursued during the tenures of former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh “needs to be revived and taken forward”. “Meaningful dialogue is imperative between Delhi and Islamabad, and equally between Delhi and Srinagar, for peace, dignity and a just resolution,” said the Mirwaiz, while addressing a function in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk. He said he had supported dialogue even at a time when those advocating talks were accused of treason. “We did not back down. My uncle ‘shaheed’ Molvi Mushtaq was killed, Islamia School was burnt down, my house was attacked, but I did not give up on my principle that dialogue is the only way forward,” he said.
Stating that a new world order is shaping up, the Mirwaiz said war is not a solution. Referring to a recent open letter signed by 117 people from India and Pakistan, urging the Prime Ministers of the two countries to resume engagement, he welcomed the efforts of civil society voices to promote peace. On the J&K administration’s move to ban certain books, the Mirwaiz said, “In a democratic society, bans do not work, whether they are bans on books, ideas or organisations.” He said societies grow through openness, discussion and engagement, not by suppressing books or silencing perspectives.
The Mirwaiz said Kashmir has a 5,000-year-old rich, and layered history, adding Kashmiris are proud of their civilisational legacy, from the Buddhist period to Shaivism and Hindu traditions, and then the Islamic period, which shaped Kashmir’s spiritual, social and cultural identity. “After 1947, Jammu and Kashmir also became a political issue, and this too is part of its modern history. You cannot erase history or selectively project only that part of history which suits a particular narrative,” the Mirwaiz said. On the Amarnath Yatra, he said that it is a religious pilgrimage and the people of Kashmir have always respected the religious sentiments of all communities.
“Kashmir has a long tradition of mehmaan-nawazi (hospitality), and pilgrims who come here for their faith should be treated with respect and care. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that the daily life of local people is not unnecessarily disrupted and that the fragile environment of Kashmir is protected,” said the Mirwaiz.
The BriefWire