Srinagar, June 14, KNT: Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, on Saturday said Kashmir would remain incomplete without the return of Kashmiri Pandits, asserting that both Pandits and Muslims suffered during the years of turmoil and that restoring the Valley’s composite social fabric must remain a collective priority.
Addressing the Global Kashmiri Pandit Conclave titled “From Exile to Excellence” at SKICC Srinagar, Wani said the gathering on the banks of Dal Lake symbolized the enduring bond between the two communities despite decades of separation.
“We are one. Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims have shared a common social and cultural space for generations. We celebrated each other’s joys and stood together in times of grief,” he said.
Recalling the role of the Pandit community in shaping Kashmir’s educational and intellectual landscape, Wani said generations of Kashmiris benefitted from the contribution of Pandit teachers and scholars.
He described the migration of Kashmiri Pandits as an unfortunate chapter that caused pain to both communities and cautioned against viewing the tragedy through a narrow lens.
“We should not generalize things. Muslims also suffered during those difficult years. Both communities paid a price and both continue to carry the scars,” he said.
The Advisor as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust said efforts to rebuild trust and facilitate the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits must continue and added that merely trading accusations would not help address the issue.
“Allegations and raising fingers at each other will not serve any purpose. We have to find ways and means to bring our brothers and sisters back,” he said.
Wani said the government would seek the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for the restoration of the Apex Committee, which was constituted to address issues concerning the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.
He maintained that initiatives undertaken by the government would remain incomplete unless they ultimately lead to the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland.
Wani also expressed concern over the declining use of the Kashmiri language, saying preservation of the mother tongue was central to safeguarding Kashmir’s cultural identity. He observed that many members of the community living outside the Valley had gradually lost touch with the language and stressed the need for collective efforts to preserve it for future generations.
The conclave was attended by members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, civil society representatives and other stakeholders. [KNT]
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