Srinagar, June 13 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former CM Mehbooba Mufti on Friday strongly criticized the “silence” of global powers over Israel’s attack on Iran, calling it a dangerous display of “double standards”.
Omar said that as far as he knows, Iran did not give Israel any provocation to launch an attack.
“Israel went ahead on their own, calling it a pre-emptive attack, and waged war on a country. If the global powers remain silent on this, it will be truly unfortunate. What Israel has done is very similar to what Russia did to Ukraine,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.
Omar pointed out the hypocrisy in international responses.
“You raise your voice against Russia, launch campaigns. But when Israel attacks Iran, America, Europe, and others remain silent. If it is wrong for one country to attack another, it should be wrong also when Israel attacks Iran,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Middle East conflict will, of course, escalate, and it will have an immediate impact on the people in the country.
“ It (Iran- Israel conflict) will, of course, escalate and will have an immediate impact on us. It has an impact on our fuel prices. It has an impact on our stock market. It has an impact on the flights that have to fly to the West. But more than that, it has an impact on the sentiment of people,” Omar said.
Earlier, in a post on X Chief Minister urged the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students in Iran.
Israel on Friday launched a major attack on Iran, including nuclear sites, killing several top figures. The attack triggered condemnation from several Kashmiri politicians.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Iran, saying it was condemnable and reprehensible.
"This attack undermines Iran’s sovereignty and security and is a blatant violation of international laws and principles," Abdullah said.
Abdullah said that Israel is breaking all records of "oppression and brutality" in Palestine.
He also criticized the United Nations, stating that it has become a silent spectator of Israeli aggression and barbarism, and for the past one year and eight months, it has only issued statements regarding the continued bombings.
Former CM and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said that Israel’s attack on Iran is yet another “brazen act by a state that appears to have gone rogue”.
“The silence of the global community, particularly Western powers led by the United States, is both alarming and telling. This silence amounts to tacit approval,” Mehbooba said in a post on X.
“ In the case of India-Pakistan tensions, the U.S. never fails to assert that its intervention has been crucial in preventing escalation. Yet when it comes to Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza or its latest strike on Iran, that same urgency is conspicuously missing,” she said.
“These glaring double standards endanger global peace and stability. Equally disturbing is the deafening silence of the so-called Muslim countries, who remain shamelessly non-existent in the face of such grave injustice. Their inaction is not just disappointing, it’s a betrayal of the very causes they claim to stand for,” Mehbooba said.
Kashmir’s Chief Cleric and Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said that it was distressing to know about the bombing of Iran by Israel.
"This is highly condemnable. While perpetuating genocide on hapless Palestinians and getting away with it, Israel is now putting the whole of the Middle East in peril. It has become a rogue state and a huge threat to world peace," Mirwaiz said.
"It is the moral duty of the UN and all world nations to put pressure on Israel to stop the genocide and war in Gaza and prevent Israel from targeting other nations. People of Jammu and Kashmir stand with Palestinians and Iranians against Israeli aggression on them, the Hurriyat Chief said.
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