Kashmir’s Moral Stand in a Geopolitical Storm
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 23 June 205
As tensions between global powers reach a boiling point, Kashmir’s political leaders have stepped forward with bold and morally driven condemnations of the United States’ recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The strikes, which many fear may trigger a broader Middle East war, have drawn sharp rebuke from key Kashmiri voices—each delivering a nuanced yet unified message of peace, justice, and resistance to imperial aggression.
In an atmosphere where global silence and strategic alignments often overshadow humanitarian considerations, leaders from Kashmir have chosen not to stay silent. Former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah, along with Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have each raised strong objections to the American assault, calling it a dangerous precedent that undermines international norms and inflames an already volatile region.
Their statements offer not only a critique of Western military policies but also serve as a wake-up call to the broader Muslim world—and to India—about the risks of silence, complicity, and strategic hypocrisy. This article explores their perspectives in depth and connects their concerns to larger regional and global dynamics.
The Strike That Shook the World: US Attacks on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
The U.S. launched targeted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, claiming the move was necessary to prevent Iran from achieving weaponization goals. While Washington justified its actions as “defensive preemptive strikes,” many international observers, including the United Nations’ own atomic agency officials, warned against escalating hostilities.
Iranian officials responded with outrage, branding the act a clear violation of international law and sovereignty. The Islamic Republic vowed retaliation, and images of destruction at its Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities circulated globally. In a world still grappling with the fallout of multiple wars, the act revived fears of a new military conflict in the Middle East—one that could quickly spiral out of control.
As the world watched in anxious silence, Kashmir’s political leadership broke ranks with the typical diplomatic restraint to call out what they saw as an unjust and dangerous provocation.
Mehbooba Mufti Speaks Out: “This Is How Wars Begin”
Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), delivered a scathing critique of the US airstrikes and the larger global response—or lack thereof. “This is how wars begin,” she warned, emphasizing that acts of aggression masked as self-defense only invite chaos.
Criticism of the OIC and Pakistan
In a rare rebuke of fellow Muslim nations, Mufti took aim at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for what she termed its “shameful silence” in the face of American aggression. “What is the OIC if not a platform to stand up for the sovereignty and dignity of Muslim nations? Their failure to act speaks volumes,” she said.
She also criticized Pakistan for its prior attempt to nominate former U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. “How quickly we forget that the same man who was once hailed for initiating talks with North Korea is now authorizing strikes on sovereign Muslim nations. The irony is tragic,” she said.
India’s Silence: A Strategic Shift?
Mufti expressed concern over India’s silence on the matter, suggesting a quiet alignment with Western powers. “By not voicing even a symbolic condemnation, India risks being seen as siding with the aggressor. This silence could be interpreted as strategic approval,” she warned.
Her statement also urged Indian civil society and intellectuals to question New Delhi’s foreign policy direction, warning that today’s silence might pave the way for tomorrow’s complicity.
Farooq Abdullah’s Warning: “Today Iran, Tomorrow You”
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the seasoned statesman and president of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, offered perhaps the most emotionally resonant response. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, he invoked the historic tragedy of Karbala—a sacred reference in Shia Islam—to frame Iran’s current struggle.
“Iran Is in a Second Karbala”
“When a sovereign nation is attacked under the pretext of global security, and the world watches in silence, that’s not diplomacy—it’s cowardice,” said Abdullah. He likened Iran’s resilience to that of Imam Hussain in Karbala, emphasizing that the nation would resist rather than surrender.
His statement carried weight not only because of its religious undertone but also due to its broader geopolitical insight. “The Muslim world must remember—today it’s Iran. Tomorrow, it could be any of us. The absence of collective resistance is an invitation for further humiliation.”
A Call for Moral Leadership
Abdullah called for Muslim nations to move beyond symbolic resolutions and invest in real diplomatic influence. “Why are our embassies silent? Why is our leadership mute?” he asked. “If we cannot stand up now, we are betraying every principle we claim to uphold.”
He also stressed the importance of unity among Muslim-majority nations to confront what he called “a growing neo-imperialist aggression camouflaged as global security policing.”
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Perspective: “Justice, Not Missiles, Ensures Peace”
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir and chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, approached the issue from a spiritual and ethical standpoint. Known for his consistent advocacy for peace, dialogue, and religious justice, his condemnation of the U.S. strikes on Iran was both eloquent and forceful.
“Peace Can’t Be Achieved Through Bombs”
“Military aggression has never brought sustainable peace. It only fuels cycles of violence,” said the Mirwaiz in a public address. He criticized not only the U.S. but also the entire international community for failing to uphold the sanctity of diplomatic discourse.
He underscored that global powers must choose dialogue over destruction. “Dialogue isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom,” he declared. “True peace emerges when grievances are heard, justice is served, and sovereignty is respected.”
Justice for Palestinians: The Root of Peace
The Mirwaiz also connected the Iran crisis to the longstanding plight of Palestinians. “You cannot talk about peace in the Middle East while turning a blind eye to the suffering in Gaza and the apartheid in Palestine,” he said.
He called on the international community to reinvigorate efforts toward a fair two-state solution and urged the United Nations to act with renewed sincerity. “The path to global peace must go through Jerusalem and Tehran—not through airstrikes and military bases,” he added.
Kashmir’s Voice on Global Stage: Why These Statements Matter
The unified condemnation from Kashmir’s top political leaders isn’t just a local reaction to a global event. It’s a reflection of Kashmir’s own experiences with conflict, occupation, and marginalization. These leaders, having witnessed decades of unrest and international silence on their homeland, are uniquely positioned to understand the consequences of unchecked aggression and abandoned diplomacy.
Their statements remind the world that conflict zones aren’t just battlefields; they are human communities with stories, rights, and voices that matter. By speaking out, these Kashmiri leaders reaffirm the region’s moral compass—one rooted in the values of justice, peace, and sovereignty.
A Deafening Silence: The Muslim World’s Inaction
One recurring theme in all three leaders’ statements is the critique of the Muslim world’s muted reaction. Despite the gravity of the situation, most Arab and Islamic nations have either issued soft statements or avoided comment altogether. This diplomatic inertia raises serious questions about the current state of Islamic solidarity.
The OIC, once envisioned as a collective defense against Western hegemony, is increasingly seen as a symbolic body with little real-world influence. Its failure to respond to the U.S. strikes has reignited debate over its credibility and purpose.
As Farooq Abdullah rightly pointed out: “When your own house burns and your neighbors pretend not to notice, the fire eventually reaches them too.”
Where Is India in All This? The Question of Strategic Silence
India’s strategic silence on the U.S. strikes has not gone unnoticed. While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued generic calls for peace, it has refrained from condemning the strikes or engaging Iran in diplomatic support.
This non-committal stance has fueled speculation about India’s increasing alignment with U.S. foreign policy, especially given its participation in Quad partnerships and its growing military and trade ties with the West.
Mehbooba Mufti’s criticism underscores a broader anxiety: Is India abandoning its legacy of non-alignment and moral leadership for short-term strategic gains?
Bottom-Line: Kashmir’s Moral Compass and the Call for a New Global Ethic
At a time when diplomacy is increasingly replaced by drones, and alliances are shaped by profits rather than principles, the voices from Kashmir serve as a moral compass. By speaking out against the U.S. strikes on Iran, Mehbooba Mufti, Farooq Abdullah, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have placed human values above political calculations.
Their calls for justice, unity, and dialogue are not only a response to this crisis but also a timeless reminder of what genuine leadership looks like.
As the world stands at the edge of another possible war, these Kashmiri leaders have reminded us all of a simple truth: peace cannot be bombed into existence—it must be built with justice, dialogue, and unwavering moral courage.
