Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has termed Israel’s strike on Iran ‘unjustified’ and expressed regret over Western powers remaining silent, unlike their stance against Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
“As far as I know, Iran did not give any reason to Israel for this strike. Israel waged war on a country by calling it a preemptive attack… Israel did the same thing that Russia did in Ukraine,” Omar Abdullah told media here.
He warned of the situation becoming escalatory.
“Of course, the situation will escalate. It has an immediate impact on us. It will impact our fuel prices, stock market, and flights that have to fly to the West. But more than that, it will impact the sentiments of the people,” the Chief Minister said.
“It will be a matter of extreme regret if the world’s great powers remain silent on this… The big powers of the world, like America and Europe, raise their voices against Russia, but in the matter of Israel, they remain silent. If it is wrong for a country to attack another country, as in the case of Russia, then here too, it is not justified for Israel to attack Iran,” he added.
Early this morning, Israel launched what it called a “pre-emptive operation” on Iran targeting the latter’s nuclear program.
In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “very successful opening strike” carried out by Israeli forces. He said Israel, through its large-scale military operation that he named ‘Rising Lion’, targeted “Iran’s main enrichment facility” and “Iran’s leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb.”
“We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile program,” Netanyahu said.
The military operation, Netanyahu said, is aimed at dismantling what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” Netanyahu said in the video statement that was posted on X, adding that the mission would continue “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
The Israeli PM accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons programme despite global warnings, noting that Tehran has stockpiles of enriched uranium capable of producing multiple nuclear bombs. “In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs. Nine,” he said, warning that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within months.
Netanyahu likened the situation to the prelude to World War II and referenced the Holocaust, stating, “Eighty years ago, the Jewish people were the victims of a holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure the well-being and safety of Kashmiri students stuck in Iran.
CM Omar Abdullah said on X, “Requesting @MEAIndia to urgently ensure safety and well being of Kashmiri students stuck in Iran. Their families are deeply worried and we stand with them in this difficult time. Every step must be taken to safeguard our students.”
Kashmir Valley has a good number of students studying medicine and other professions in Iran. In addition, a number of local doctors and engineers are working in Iran in various capacities.
The large Shia Muslim community of Jammu and Kashmir has a deep affinity with Iranian Muslims, who are predominantly Shia Muslims.
A number of local religious organizations have organized meetings and gatherings to condemn the Israeli action against Iran. In condemnation of the Israeli action in Iran, both Sunni and Shia Muslims have voiced deep concern and condemned the development with one voice.
It must be mentioned here that almost all the high-ranking scholars of the Shia community belong to Iran, and their interpretation of religion is followed obediently by the Shia Muslims in India.
Any development happening in Iran is deeply followed by the Shia Muslims in Kashmir.
