Assassinated leaders Farooq and Lone believed dialogue was the best way: Mirwaiz
'The political foresight that both these leaders exhibited, their faith in resolution of the Kashmir conflict through dialogue, which they saw as the best means to end lingering uncertainty for the people of J&K and as the catalyst for ensuring peace and stability in the region, is once again acknowledged by the world as the way forward. Hope India and Pakistan pay heed to it,' the Mirwaiz said, in a statement.
The Mirwaiz paid tributes to his late father and also remembered Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone Sahab and the '70 innocent mourners who died in the Hawal massacre on the same date.'
Painful memories
'21st May is upon us, and painful memories are revived. Quaid-e-Kashmir to his people, Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq was on this day taken away from them by gunmen, his distraught mourners sprayed with bullets, leaving seventy dead. Even after 35 years, the vacuum his death created is present, more keenly felt with each passing year. His guidance is deeply missed,' the Mirwaiz said.
J&K PC chief Sajad Lone spoke about the loss of his father. 'He (Mr. Lone) sacrificed his life in pursuit of his dream for peace. Those were even darker days than today. Speaking the truth often invited retribution. I remember when he died, we called him the Martyr to Peace. Never in these 23 years has the need for peace dawned on us as it has in the last thirty days,' Mr. Lone said.
'May those who killed him burn in hell, and may all those cowards who kill non-combatants, civilians, and innocent tourists burn in hell,' Mr. Lone added.
Former J&K chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, also paid her tributes. 'Today marks the solemn death anniversary of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq Sahab & Abdul Gani Lone Sahab. Two prominent Kashmiri figures known for their efforts to promote peace and dialogue in the region. Their deaths remain a tragic reminder of the heavy cost of violence in the region and the urgent need for peace and reconciliation,' she said, in a post on X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Magisterial inquiry, suspensions after death of Gujjar youth in ‘police firing' outside Jammu
The Jammu district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of a Gujjar youth in an alleged police firing on the outskirts of Jammu city. Simultaneously, the police have suspended two officers and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident. Mohammad Parvez, a 21-year-old from Niki Tawi was allegedly shot in police firing near Sure Chak village on the city's outskirts, with police claiming he had neither criminal records nor links to drug peddlers. An FIR invokes Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita's sections pertaining to attempted murder and provisions pertaining to the Arms Act. In his order initiating an inquiry Friday, Jammu District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya directed the inquiry officer to conclude investigation in two weeks and submit their findings. Within hours of this, Jammu SSP Joginder Singh 'suspended with immediate effect' Head Constable Baljinder Singh and Selection Grade Constable Pawan Singh through an order issued late Friday night. 'They shall remain posted in DPL (District Police Lines), Jammu,and will deposit uniform articles in the DPL Store,' the order read, adding that 'however, they are entitled to draw subsistence allowances as admissible under rule'. In addition, police have also constituted a SIT headed by SDPO Domana Mudassar Hussain to look into the allegations of the deceased's family. Meanwhile, the family held a burial for the youth Friday after they were promised action in the case. In a statement issued Thursday, the police said that some drug peddlers fired at them and that 'one unknown person' was injured in the exchange of bullets that followed. The death of the tribal youth drew strong condemnations from J&K's top political leadership, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah describing the incident as 'highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable'. 'The use of force by the police has to be calibrated and cannot be indiscriminate,' Omar Abdullah wrote in a post on X, adding: 'J&K has paid a heavy price in the past because of incidents such as these… This incident should be investigated in a transparent and time bound manner. I send my condolences to the family of Mohd Parvez. May Allah grant him Jannat'. Former chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also took to X, saying, 'Mohammad Parvez, a tribal youth, was killed by the police… He's now been labelled a drug dealer, but even if that is the case, we still live in a democratic country where justice is served through rule of law as opposed to khap panchayats or kangaroo courts.' National Conference MP from Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency Mian Altaf Ahmed, too, expressed his anguish and grief over the death of Parvez. 'I strongly condemn the killing of a youth, Mohd Parvez, resident of Niki Tawi, in police firing in Jammu yesterday. It is a broad daylight murder. A fast-track investigation should be done and strict action (must be taken) against officials involved. My solidarity and sympathy with the victim's family,' he said.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Ishaq Dar Highlights Trump's ‘Pivotal Role' In India–Pak Ceasefire During Talks With Marco Rubio
Ishaq Dar also brought up the Kashmir issue in his meeting with Rubio, calling it the core dispute between India and Pakistan and urging its resolution as per UN resolutions Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to discuss bilateral relations, trade cooperation, regional stability, counterterrorism, and global peace initiatives. According to details accessed by CNN-News18, the two leaders discussed the broad contours of Pakistan-US ties and stressed the importance of close cooperation between the two countries to ensure peace and stability in the region. The US conveyed interest in expanding bilateral trade, with Rubio stating that Washington wants to enhance collaboration with Pakistan in the critical minerals sector. The Pakistani side highlighted the importance of strengthening economic ties, particularly through increased trade and investment linkages. Potential areas of cooperation identified by Pakistan included information technology, artificial intelligence, crypto, and minerals, at both the government and private-sector levels. Dar appreciated what he described as the pivotal role played by US President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India by facilitating a ceasefire and averting a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed states. However, India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire understanding was a bilateral decision between the Indian and Pakistani military leaderships, with no third-party involvement. The Kashmir issue also featured in the discussion. Dar referred to Jammu and Kashmir as the core issue between India and Pakistan, and called for its resolution in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. India has repeatedly rejected any attempt to internationalise the matter, asserting that it remains an internal issue. The meeting also included a briefing from the Pakistani side on its recent presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Dar highlighted several initiatives undertaken during the term, including the consensus adoption of Resolution 2788 on the 'Peaceful Settlement of Disputes." The move was positioned by Pakistan as part of its broader diplomatic engagement on global conflict resolution, even as India has consistently opposed any attempt to bring bilateral disputes, particularly Kashmir, to multilateral platforms like the UN. On the security front, Pakistan reiterated its role as a frontline state in the global war on terror, referring to its past contributions and sacrifices. The emphasis on counterterrorism cooperation comes amid continued international scrutiny of safe havens for extremist elements in the region, a concern India has repeatedly flagged. Pakistan stressed that deeper cooperation with the US on counterterror efforts would be mutually beneficial and support regional stability. The conversation also extended to broader international concerns, including peacebuilding efforts and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Pakistan expressed its willingness to contribute constructively to global peace initiatives, while both sides discussed the importance of coordinated international action in the Middle East. Rubio acknowledged what he described as a positive trajectory in Pakistan-US relations and conveyed Washington's interest in expanding collaboration, particularly in the domains of economic development, trade, investment, and counterterrorism. He also appreciated Pakistan's commitment to maintaining the ceasefire understanding with India and its efforts to promote regional peace and stability, even though Pakistan broke the truce shortly after Trump publicly announced the ceasefire on social media. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a long-term partnership and agreed to continue working together on bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual concern. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
26th Kargil Vijay Diwas Observed With Fervour In Ladakh's Drass
As the country commemorates the supreme sacrifice of its martyrs on the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas, a host of functions are underway in Drass town of Ladakh on Saturday. J&K LG, Manoj Sinha said, while paying tributes to the Kargil conflict martyrs, "On Kargil Vijay Diwas, I bow to our martyrs and salute their bravery, courage and sacrifice. Our heroes fought in the most inhospitable terrain in the world and conquered the enemy. The gallantry, valour and supreme sacrifice of our soldiers will inspire the generations to come." Army's Udhampur headquartered Northern Command remembered its brave hearts by posting on X, "As India commemorates the 26th #KargilVijayDiwas, the #NorthernCommand paid tribute to the unwavering bravery of our soldiers through a series of poignant events." The Northern Command added that from cycling expeditions to marathons, cricket tournaments to Veer Gatha initiatives and adventurous treks to battle peaks. Every gesture honours the indomitable spirit of our armed forces. "Special ceremonies were held to felicitate the Next of Kin of Kargil heroes killed in action, acknowledging their ultimate sacrifice. These events serve as a testament to the courage, resilience, and patriotism that define our nation's heroes," it said. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, MoS Defence, Sanjay Seth and the Army Chief General, Upendra Dwivedi, attended Kargil Vijay Diwas' celebrations at Drass on Saturday. Three projects will be launched today by the army in the Kargil district, including a portal where citizens can pay 'e-shradhanjali' to martyrs. Both union ministers reached Kargil town on Friday and attended cultural and other functions. On this day in 1999, the army announced the successful culmination of 'Operation Vijay', declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle. The Union Sports Minister led a 'padyatra' featuring over 1,000 youth volunteers, veterans, armed forces personnel, families of fallen soldiers, and civil society members in Drass today. The 1.5 kilometre long Padyatra commenced at 7:00 am from the grounds of Himabass Public High School, Drass and concluded at the grounds of Government Higher Secondary School, Bhimbet. War veterans, families of war heroes and many dignitaries are attending today's celebrations in Drass town. Indus Viewpoint is the third project being inaugurated today. This will allow visitors to go up to the LoC in the Batalik sector. The project will give an idea to the visitors about the conditions in which soldiers serve, the difficulties and constant dangers they face on a day-to-day basis to ensure that the nation remains safe. Located 10,000 feet above sea level, Batalik was the focal point of the Kargil war due to its strategic location between Kargil, Leh and Baltistan. The small village in the Indus River valley has now become a major tourist attraction.
