Farooq Abdullah says Kashmiri Pandits unlikely to return permanently to Valley

January 19, 2026

Jammu: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) President, Farooq Abdullah, on Monday expressed his belief that Kashmiri Pandits are unlikely to return permanently to the Valley. “They may come as visitors, but I don’t think Kashmiri Pandits will ever return permanently to the Valley,” Abdullah told reporters. He added, however, that the displaced community is always welcome to return to their ancestral homes.

Visits possible, but permanent resettlement uncertain
Abdullah highlighted that while the Valley is the rightful home of the Kashmiri Pandits, many have established lives outside Kashmir over the past decades. “They have built new lives, their children are employed or studying in other parts of the country. Many may visit, but permanent return is unlikely,” he said. The statement coincided with the observance of ‘Holocaust Day’ by migrant Kashmiri Pandits, commemorating their forced exodus from the Valley in 1990 following threats from terrorists.

Displaced Pandits still welcome
The former Chief Minister noted that many Kashmiri Pandit families never left and continue to live peacefully in the Valley. “When will they return? Who is stopping them? No one. They should come back as it is their home,” Abdullah said. He further added that during his tenure, the government had assured the community of housing and other necessary support, but after the fall of his government, implementation of these plans became the responsibility of the Central government.

Youth protests for homeland continue
On Monday evening, dozens of Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of ‘Youth 4 Panun Kashmir’ blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jagti migrant camp, demanding a separate homeland in the Valley and pressing for a bill in Parliament to recognise their genocide. Abdullah acknowledged their concerns but reiterated that many Pandits are now settled across India and have aged, with their children studying and seeking medical care in different cities.

Legacy of Kashmiriyat and impact of terrorism
Abdullah reflected on the broader socio-cultural impact of the migration, noting that the unique tradition of ‘Kashmiriyat’, rooted in Hindu-Muslim harmony, suffered due to terrorism sponsored from across the border. While the pain and shock of migration still resonates with elders, younger generations often see returning permanently to the Valley as impractical. Today, only about 3,000 Kashmiri Pandits live in the Valley, while the majority remain displaced across India.

While acknowledging the continuing desire among some elders to return, Abdullah emphasised that the present reality makes permanent resettlement unlikely. The Valley remains their historical home, but practical considerations of employment, education, and healthcare influence the community’s decisions.