Khan faroz cni

Srinagar, (CNI): The recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan has come as a blessing for thousands of Hajj pilgrims from Kashmir, whose journey to Mecca had been cast into doubt amid escalating tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

With cross-border hostilities prompting the closure of 32 northern airports, including Srinagar, the hopes of 3,622 selected pilgrims were left hanging. Only 178 pilgrims had managed to depart from Srinagar before flights were suspended, while 480 others left from Delhi.
The suspension left many, like 65-year-old Ghulam Mohammad of Srinagar, devastated.

“We did all the preparations, and then the airport shut down. It felt like everything collapsed,” he said, tearfully clinging to his prayer beads.

The announcement of a full ceasefire on Saturday night brought immediate relief. At Haj House Srinagar, where anxiety had gripped hundreds, emotions turned to joy and gratitude. Families wept, prostrated in prayer, and began preparing once more for the sacred journey.

“My mother fasted every day last week for peace,” said Ajaz Ahmad from Budgam. “When she heard the ceasefire news, she wept and said, ‘Allah has opened the road to His house.’”

Authorities have begun efforts to reschedule cancelled flights, aiming to accommodate all pilgrims before the window closes.

For many, the journey now carries added spiritual significance. “This Hajj is more than a pilgrimage,” said 60-year-old Hajira Jan. “It’s a prayer for peace, for our land, for every heart.” (CNI)