On the sidelines of the bustling BRICS Summit in New Delhi, a quiet but significant meeting unfolded between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a delegation of senior Kashmiri religious leaders. The gathering, held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, brought together voices advocating for peace in a region often marked by conflict.

Key facts

  • Meeting occurred September 12, 2026 during BRICS Summit
  • Attendees included Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Aga Syed Hassan, Muntazir Mehdi and Molvi Imran Raza Ansari
  • Iran's official news agency IRNA released photographs of the meeting

A Call for Dialogue Over Confrontation

The Kashmiri leaders didn't mince words about their position. They pitched firmly for "diplomacy over war as a means to resolve issues"—a message that resonated through the closed-door discussions. According to a spokesman for Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the religious leaders exchanged views with Mr. Araghchi on what they described as "the grave situation confronting the region."

Their concerns stretched beyond Kashmir's borders, touching on the devastation in Palestine and instability in Lebanon. The delegation conveyed solidarity with the people of Iran, expressing deep concern over lost lives, destroyed homes, and what they called "the climate of fear and insecurity created by war."

The Mirwaiz's Powerful Plea

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered perhaps the most poignant message of the meeting. "War only multiplies human suffering," he told the Iranian Foreign Minister. "However serious the differences may be, endless confrontation cannot resolve them. Ultimately, even the most difficult disputes have to return to dialogue, engagement and negotiation."

The Mirwaiz offered a historical perspective, mentioning Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei's visit to Kashmir following the Islamic Revolution in the 1980s—a gesture underscoring the "deep-rooted historical and people-to-people bonds between Kashmir and Iran" that the Iranian Foreign Minister would later acknowledge.

"Human dignity has no sect or nationality, and every innocent life is precious. We must remain on the right side of history — on the side of justice, humanity and peace"

His words carried weight beyond the immediate tensions, drawing on South Asia's experience with prolonged conflicts. He suggested that India, with its Gandhi-inspired legacy of ahimsa (non-violence), could play a constructive role in encouraging restraint and diplomacy amid growing international tensions.

Solidarity and Shared Principles

Aga Syed Hassan, president of J&K Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian, reinforced the message of solidarity while praising what he called "the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by the Iranian people in the face of aggression and pressure."

His comments touched on broader principles of international relations. "There is no place for bullying, coercion or unilateralism in today's world," Mr. Hassan told the Foreign Minister, stressing the need for a global order based on sovereignty, mutual respect, and peaceful resolution of disputes.

The meeting concluded with the Mirwaiz presenting Mr. Araghchi with a wooden miniature of the historic Jama Masjid—a symbolic gift marking the occasion. Earlier during the summit, these same leaders had attended an interaction with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and participated in an exhibition remembering children killed during a U.S. attack on Iran earlier in the year.