Mehbooba Mufti prays for Iran’s victory, hopes war ends
Kashmir shares deep roots with Iran, reflecting close bonds
From the dusty rally grounds of Hiranagar in Kathua, Jammu, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s voice carried a mix of fervor and frustration on Sunday. Praying to Allah for Iran to triumph in the raging West Asia conflict—and for the war to end swiftly—she linked the distant bombs to the empty pockets and anxious hearts right here in Jammu and Kashmir. “This war must stop to restore stability and curb escalating inflation,” she urged, her words resonating with a crowd weary of global chaos hitting home.
Mufti didn’t mince words on India’s role. “Iran has deep, historical ties with us. It’s heartbreaking that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel just before the war erupted on February 28—it sent the wrong signal,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the PDP rally. Jammu and Kashmir, she recalled fondly, was once dubbed “Iran-e-Sagheer” or Little Iran, a nod to profound cultural bonds. “Islam reached us through Iran; we share so much—poetry, Sufi saints, even our resilient spirit.”
“This outpouring shows our unbreakable connection,” Mufti said, her eyes lighting up. It’s the kind of grassroots empathy you see in Hyderabad mohallas or Lahore bazaars—ordinary people bridging continents with quiet generosity amid their own hardships.
As former chief minister, Mufti’s prayers pack weight: victory for Iran, yes, but peace above all. The US-Israel strikes sparked Tehran’s Gulf-wide retaliation, now grinding into week five. Casualties mount—from Indian workers killed in Kuwaiti plants to UAE street tragedies. “The war’s shadows reach India too,” she warned. “Everything’s pricier—fuel, rice, medicines. Families stretch thin, dreams deferred.”
No one feels it sharper than Gulf expats. Lakhs from J&K slave in Dubai heat or Kuwait oilfields, wiring home lifeblood remittances. “If things worsen, they’ll flood back, swelling our unemployment lines already bursting,” Mufti fretted. In a valley scarred by militancy and lockdowns, this could ignite unrest. Her plea? Halt the hostilities, tame inflation, let stability bloom like spring chinar leaves.
Turning fire on local failures, Mufti skewered the National Conference (NC) government and BJP-led Centre. “People pinned hopes on NC’s 50 seats, expecting miracles. Same with BJP in Delhi—they’d fix our woes. But both have utterly failed.” Potholed roads, jobless youth, power cuts persist. She pushed PDP’s bill for new districts and divisions: “It’ll ease admin burdens, bring relief. Let’s see if they act.”
Mufti’s rally tapped raw nerves. Kathua’s farmers, Jammu’s traders— all grapple with war-fueled woes. Oil spikes jack up tractor diesel; tourists vanish, emptying houseboats. In Srinagar cafes or Hiranagar haats, talk swirls: Will Pakistan’s mediation spark US-Iran talks? Trump’s Kharg threats? Hormuz chokepoints starving tankers to India? For Kashmiri Muslims, Iran evokes resistance icons like Qasem Soleimani, blending faith with fury.
Yet Mufti’s call transcends politics—it’s human. Picture a Baramulla mother melting gold earrings for Tehran aid, her son in Sharjah texting “Stay safe, Ammi—prices killing us.” Or Kathua kin scanning news for Gulf safety. War shreds this tapestry, inflating dal to unaffordable heights.
As PDP faithful cheered, Mufti’s message lingered: Pray for Iran’s win, but crave peace. New districts could decentralize power, jobs sprout in forgotten corners. Inflation isn’t numbers; it’s wedding savings evaporated, school fees skipped.
In Delhi drawing rooms or Hyderabad newsrooms, her words stir debate. Modi’s Israel ties strain Iran relations, Chabahar port dreams fade. For J&K, caught in India’s geopolitical chess, Mufti’s prayer is a cry from the heart: Let Allah guide to victory and calm, before more families shatter.