Srinagar, May 16 -- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has termed the recent escalation along the Line of Control (LoC) as a "human tragedy" and not just a political crisis, urging both India and Pakistan to choose peace over military confrontation.

In a press release issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Mirwaiz expressed deep grief over the devastating impact of the hostilities on people residing along the LoC. "In the last few days, we have gone through another harrowing experience that this festering conflict ignited-hours close to an all-out war between two nuclear countries," the statement read.

"Even the 'limited escalation' was enough to destroy the lives of those living along and across the LOC in J&K. Dozens of precious lives lost, homes and...