Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said India’s silence on the US-Israel aggression against Iran was incomprehensible for her, as only Tehran had stood by New Delhi when sanctions were imposed against the latter for nuclear tests.
“I fail to understand that we are a democratic country, but neither has our country’s leadership condemned it or expressed condolences with the people there (Iran), nor has the leadership here (in Jammu and Kashmir),” the former chief minister told a press conference here.
Mufti asserted that people in J&K, particularly in Kashmir, were deeply saddened and enraged by the ongoing joint strikes on Iran by the US and Israel over the past several days.
She alleged that thousands of individuals, including young women, have been lodged in jails for “peacefully expressing their anguish”.
The former chief minister asserted that India and Iran have historically shared cordial ties, claiming that Tehran had maintained a friendly and balanced approach towards New Delhi, including on the Kashmir issue.
“Every Muslim country used to side with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, except Iran, which took India’s side. When sanctions were imposed on India, Iran was the only country that gave us oil. They did not even take the money first, and then took it later. Despite that, unfortunately, the country’s leadership did not condemn attacks on it or even express condolences to the people of Iran,” she said.
Mehbooba Mufti, a former J&K Chief Minister, accompanied by senior PDP leaders and activists, had earlier staged a symbolic protest at the party head office on Residency Road here and set effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on fire, calling them “war criminals” and “Epstein’s goons”.
She claimed that the Israeli PM was the mastermind behind the creation of a demonic figure like Jeffrey Epstein.
Mufti said that given the prevailing restrictions, they were unable to hold large public demonstrations and instead resorted to symbolic protests, including burning effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump to register their dissent.
She demanded immediate release of all those detained in connection with the protests, alleging that in some cases “detained girls were not being allowed to meet their families”.
She appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to release all detainees and withdraw cases against political leaders, stating that suppressing peaceful expression would only deepen public resentment.
The PDP president also sought withdrawal of FIRs registered against Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu.
“Ruhullah and Mattu only asked why the country’s leadership is silent. Is raising a question a crime?” she asked.
Mufti alleged that individuals who condemned the attack on Iran or protested against Khamenei’s killing were being treated as offenders. She also criticized what she described as growing communal polarization in the country and said the silence of the regional leadership had further fueled anger among the public.
Commenting on the global response, Mufti said the “world order appears to be in total disarray,” asserting Middle Eastern nations did not even denounce the strikes on Iran and had instead tacitly backed the “goons,” including US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
She also hit out at Pakistan, saying it seems the country’s recent pact with Saudi Arabia was not against Israel but Iran.
On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in Riyadh. The pact establishes that any aggression against either nation is considered an attack on both.
“It seems all the Muslim countries have become lapdogs of the US and Israel and are directly or indirectly involved in this attack. Iran is fighting alone, and so our heart, mind and soul stand with them,” Mufti said.
