Wed May 21 22:50:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article version:
**Summary:**
On the anniversary of the assassinations of Mirwaiz Moulana Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone, prominent Kashmiri leaders reiterated the importance of dialogue in resolving the Kashmir conflict. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, son of the slain Mirwaiz Moulana Farooq, highlighted his father’s and Lone’s belief in dialogue as the best path to peace, a view he says is now being echoed globally. Sajad Lone, Abdul Ghani Lone’s son, remembered his father’s pursuit of peace and condemned violence. Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also paid tribute, emphasizing the need for peace and reconciliation.
**News Article:**
**Kashmiri Leaders Reiterate Call for Dialogue on Anniversary of Assassinations**
**Srinagar, May 22, 2025** – On the anniversary of the assassinations of prominent Kashmiri leaders Mirwaiz Moulana Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone, calls for dialogue to resolve the ongoing Kashmir conflict were renewed.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference and son of Mirwaiz Moulana Farooq, stated that his father and Abdul Ghani Lone both firmly believed in dialogue as the optimal solution for bringing peace and stability to the region. He noted that this perspective is gaining increasing global recognition. Both leaders were assassinated on May 21st, Farooq in 1990 and Lone in 2002.
“The political foresight that both these leaders exhibited, their faith in resolution of the Kashmir conflict through dialogue… is once again acknowledged by the world as the way forward. Hope India and Pakistan pay heed to it,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement. He also commemorated the “Hawal massacre” in which 70 mourners were killed following his father’s death.
Sajad Lone, son of Abdul Ghani Lone and leader of the J&K Peoples Conference, spoke of his father’s dedication to peace, stating, “He sacrificed his life in pursuit of his dream for peace.” He vehemently condemned violence, wishing a fiery punishment on those responsible for killing innocent civilians.
Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti also paid tribute to the slain leaders, highlighting their efforts to promote peace and dialogue. “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 statement. The commemorations served as a stark reminder of the continuing need for peaceful resolution in the region.
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