Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tearfully condemned the deaths of children in cross-border firing by Pakistan, urging political intervention to halt the spiraling India-Pakistan tensions.

Speaking at a Srinagar press conference, the Peoples Democratic Party chief highlighted the devastating toll of the 2019 Pulwama and 2025 Pahalgam terror attacks, warning that such events risk global catastrophe.

Mufti, visibly emotional, recounted witnessing children killed in the violence. “I saw twins playing one moment, their bodies soaked in blood the next. What is their fault?” she asked, decrying the suffering of civilians, especially women and children, caught in the crossfire along J&K’s border areas. “For how long will our mothers’ laps go empty?”

Also Read: Pakistan’s Economic Ministry X Account Hacked, Posts Fake Loan Plea Amid India Tensions

Her remarks followed Pakistan’s overnight shelling in Poonch, Rajouri, and Jammu, met with Indian retaliation. Pakistan also launched drone and missile attacks targeting military sites in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, which India neutralized, though casualty details remain unclear.

Mufti criticized military actions by both nations, arguing they fail to address root causes or ensure lasting peace. “Kargil, Pulwama, Pahalgam—military responses only treat symptoms,” she said.

Appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s leadership, she urged dialogue to de-escalate, noting India’s global rise and Pakistan’s internal struggles. “If both leaders pick up the phone, this conflict can end.”

As sirens and blackouts gripped J&K and western states, Mufti stressed restraint to protect civilians bearing the brunt of a war they didn’t start.

Also Read: Lights Out, War On! Are Blackouts Relevant in Todays Warfare?