“Build Bridges, Not Barriers”: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Budgam, June 3 : Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday addressed the 7th Interfaith Dialogue Conference held in Budgam on the occasion of the commemoration of Late Imam Khomeini (R.A). The conference, themed “Interfaith Dialogue: Its Role in Cultivating Peace,” brought together community and faith leaders to discuss a collective way forward for peace and reconciliation in the region.

In his address, Mirwaiz condemned the recent violence and called for a unified response based on justice, dialogue, and mutual respect.

“In a world torn by conflict, war is not the answer,” he said. “True change begins when faith leaders and communities rise above politics to speak for justice, dialogue, and coexistence. Together, we must build bridges, not barriers.”

The conference witnessed wide participation from religious scholars, civil society members, and community representatives. Speakers unanimously emphasized that peace cannot be achieved through confrontation or violence but through sincere efforts toward understanding and cooperation.

Mirwaiz further stressed that the responsibility to uphold peace lies with all sections of society. He called on faith leaders and communities to reject divisiveness and work together to foster justice, unity, and human dignity.

The event served as a platform for reaffirming the role of interfaith dialogue in promoting harmony and addressing shared challenges through peaceful means.