Political leaders and religious figures in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday condemned joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, as authorities tightened security across the Valley amid fears of unrest.
The ruling National Conference (NC) urged the federal government to evacuate Kashmiri residents stranded in Iran “through every available route”, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Kashmir’s chief cleric also criticised the attacks.
Small groups of protesters gathered in parts of Bandipora, Budgam and Srinagar districts to express support for Iran and denounce the strikes, witnesses said. Police maintained a heightened presence in sensitive areas.
Authorities placed Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest as a precautionary measure, officials said. He had been scheduled to deliver a sermon at a Srinagar shrine during the holy month of Ramadan, The Hindu reported.
A spokesperson for the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said preventing the sermon was “unwarranted and disappointing”, describing the gathering as spiritual in nature and intended to commemorate Hazrat Khadija, a revered figure in Islam.
In a post on X, Farooq said he “strongly condemned” Israel’s attack on Iran, adding that a lack of international accountability over Israel’s actions in the region, particularly toward Palestinians, had emboldened it to act with impunity.
“With the U.S., Israel has now pushed the region toward a perilous escalation that risks igniting a wider regional conflict in the Middle East and destabilising global peace and security,” he said.
NC Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah criticised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he had pledged to end wars but had instead initiated what officials described as sustained military operations.
“The hypocrisy is staggering. America does not get to appoint itself judge, jury and executioner of sovereign nations,” Ruhullah said, adding that the Ministry of External Affairs should ensure the safety of Kashmiris in Iran and arrange their evacuation.
PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also criticised the strikes and expressed solidarity with Iran.
In a statement, she said Iran had long been a prominent voice in the Muslim world and that its sovereignty could not be undermined. She offered prayers for the country’s leadership and people.