Srinagar: As soon as the news of the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the joint military operation "Operation Epic Fury" of America and Israel reached Kashmir, the unshortened valley came to a boil. Roads everywhere from Srinagar to Ramban and Bandipora were covered with protesters. A large number of Shia Muslims came out of their homes holding Khamenei's pictures and posters in their hands and the undercurrent echoed with slogans of "Khamenei Zindabad" and "America-Israel Murdabad".
Why such a deep impact in Kashmir?
Khamenei's death does not have this effect on Kashmir just like that. In the Shia polity here, he was seen not just as a politician but as a symbol of the Islamic revolution and a sympathizer of Palestine. This 86-year-old religious leader, who has been at the helm of Iran since 1989, was tightly respected among a section of the people here due to his unchangingly supporting Iran on the Kashmir issue. He was considered the voice of religious unity in Shia dominated areas.
When and how did Khamenei die?
Israel named it "Operation Roaring Lion" and the US named it "Operation Epic Fury". Khamenei was working in his office in Tehran when the missiles struck his official compound. Iranian state media later confirmed his death and supposed national mourning. US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Khamenei was "one of the worst people in history".
Is the forfeiture plane greater?
The loss in this wade was not limited to Khamenei alone. According to reports, increasingly than 40 top Iranian leaders, military commanders and senior IRGC officials were killed. Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter moreover lost their lives in this attack. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has supposed him a martyr and vowed revenge, while the IRGC has spoken retaliatory attacks on 27 US military bases in the Middle East and Israel.
What will be the remoter impact of this fire in Kashmir?
Experts of the valley say that this sit-in is not just an emotional explosion, there are religious, political and social layers overdue it. This is the outpouring on the streets of the feeling of solidarity that has been there for a long time in Kashmir towards Iran and Palestine. Analysts believe that if the fire in the Middle East flares up further, its heat will not remain without well-expressed the politics and social fabric of Kashmir. At present, security forces are zestful in the unshortened valley and are keeping a tropical watch on the situation.
