Ceasefire brings hope to Hajj aspirants

Srinagar, May 10: The ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan has brought a wave of relief to Hajj aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir, whose pilgrimage plans were disrupted due to escalating tensions leading to the closure of Srinagar International Airport.

The conflict, which intensified following a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir on April 22, resulted in both nations engaging in military exchanges.

In response, the Government of India closed several airports, including Srinagar, as a precautionary measure.

This closure severely impacted the Hajj 2025 schedule. According to officials, only one Hajj flight from Srinagar to Jeddah departed on May 4, carrying 178 pilgrims.

Subsequent flights scheduled through May 14 were cancelled, leaving many pilgrims in uncertainty.

However, hope has been rekindled with the announcement of a full and immediate ceasefire between the two countries.

The agreement, facilitated by international mediation, was confirmed by both governments and has been welcomed by leaders and citizens alike. ìWe are hopeful that flights will resume. Earlier, we had proposed to take the Hajj pilgrims to other embarkation points where they could board flights to Jeddah to complete the Hajj formalities. However, we have not received any response from the central government so far,î CEO of J&K Hajj Committee, Shujaat Qureshi told Greater Kashmir.

This year, 3622 pilgrims were selected to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage from J&K.

Of these, only 178 have departed from Srinagar, while 480 J&K pilgrims who had chosen Delhi as their embarkation point have successfully left.

ìRemaining Hajj aspirants are awaiting as due to the prevailing situation Hajj flights have been cancelled up to May 14,î Qureshi said.

A notification issued by the committee states, ìIn continuation of this office notification dated May 9, 2025, it is to intimate that given the prevailing situation, all chartered Hajj flights which were scheduled up to May 14, 2025, stand cancelled.î

The notification advised pilgrims to remain patient and await further instructions.

This year marked a significant decrease in Hajj applications from J&K.

Despite receiving a quota of over 8000 seats from the Hajj Committee of India, only 3622 people applied, and all were selected.

This contrasts sharply with previous years when applications far exceeded available seats, necessitating a selection lottery and often prompting the J&K government to request additional quotas.

Officials attribute this yearís reduced interest to increased costs associated with the pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, the flight cancellations have left many pilgrims and their families distressed.

Firdous Ahmad, whose parents were scheduled to depart on May 14, expressed his disappointment saying, ìIt is sad, it is a religious obligation, and my parents were preparing for this for a whole year, but now this war has shattered everything. There are apprehensions about whether they can go or not.î

As tensions continue between the neighbouring countries, the fate of thousands of pilgrims remains uncertain, with religious aspirations and considerable financial investments hanging in the balance.