Srinagar – In a move that has sparked considerable discussion, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader and chief cleric, has removed the designation "Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference" (APHC) from his social media profile on X (formerly Twitter). The change was observed on Wednesday evening.

Mirwaiz Farooq, who commands a following of approximately 232,000 users on X, now has a bio that only includes his name, location, and other basic information. As of now, Mirwaiz has not released any statement explaining his decision, and there has been no immediate response from either the Hurriyat Conference or government authorities.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, formed in 1993, is a coalition of political, religious, and social organizations that advocate for the right to self-determination for Kashmir. From the early 1990s to the late 2010s, the APHC served as the primary separatist platform in the region, wielding significant influence and acting as a political voice during periods of unrest.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, considered a moderate separatist voice in the Kashmir Valley, has maintained a relatively low public profile in recent years, primarily focusing on religious sermons and issuing statements related to civil liberties and humanitarian concerns.

Given that the change occurred recently, there have been no official political reactions, and it is still early to draw definitive conclusions regarding the implications of this action. The removal of the designation coincides with a period of decline for the separatist organization.