The war in West Asia has roiled the waters of the Jhelum in Kashmir. An interruption of sorts surfaced with some protests against the American-Israeli strikes in Iran, in which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed. These protests attempted to create a law-and-order situation, prompting authorities to impose restrictions that the Valley had not seen for a long time.

Since Sunday, March 1, 2026 — a day after the killing of the Supreme Leader and other high-ranking officials in Iran — Shia Muslims came out on the streets to give vent to both their grief and anger. The Shia community, in particular, and Kashmiri Muslims in general, have a wide interest and investment in Iran. They share community affiliations — their children go to the country for medical and Islamic studies. They also see Iran as a major power that has resisted Western influence and “aggression” since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, when theocratic rule replaced the monarchy.

A vast majority of the men and women on the streets were genuine in their expression of grief, but a few sections tried to take advantage of the situation, forcing the law-and-order authorities to act against mischievous elements. Some were arrested; others were dispersed with tear smoke. This was required in the circumstances.

More lethal was the broadcast of these developments on social media in a twisted manner. Some fake videos were generated and circulated with a clear attempt to create a volatile situation, taking advantage of the emotionally charged atmosphere.

Shia Muslims were emotionally hurt. They were deeply affected by the death of Khamenei, revered as a spiritual leader of their community transcending boundaries. Their anger was directed at the manner in which he was killed by American-Israeli missiles. They saw no reason why Iran should have been attacked when it was in the middle of negotiations on its nuclear programme with the United States, despite Donald Trump threatening Tehran repeatedly ever since he returned to the White House in January 2025. Many were led to believe that America’s attack was premeditated and aimed simply at the annihilation of Iran.

Sunni Muslims saw the attack as an extension of the Israeli-American war campaign against Palestinians and other Islamic nations in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel. The retaliation did not remain confined to Gaza, the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory. It moved beyond areas under Hamas’ influence and those of similar groups. Many had been waiting for an opportunity to join anti-Israel demonstrations. That moment came with the protests over Iran, based on the theme that the entire Muslim Ummah was on the firing line.

On the first day of protests — March 1 — the authorities acted cautiously. They allowed the processions to move uninterrupted, understanding the grief and anger of the community, despite the fact that some demonstrators attempted to cross the line drawn by the law-and-order situation. Some protesters resorted to stone-throwing and other acts of violence. A few climbed the Clock Tower in the heart of Lal Chowk, the historic crossing that often reflects emerging political trends. They raised the Iranian flag alongside the Indian tricolour.

This was a breach of protocol, as no other flag can be unfurled at a place from where India had sent a message of complete sovereignty following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. It remains the sole preserve of the Indian national flag.

The next day, attempts were made to further disturb the situation. Their designs became apparent when some individuals took the law into their own hands, assaulted police officials and resorted to demonstrations reminiscent of a bygone era. This provided sufficient ground for the authorities to react with a clear objective — not allowing the situation to slip out of control.

There are three kinds of responsibilities here, all interlinked and overlapping. First, peace in Kashmir must be preserved, as it has been achieved after many sacrifices and sustained efforts over decades, particularly after the Modi government removed the constitutional provisions that kept the region psychologically separated from the rest of the country.

Second, peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir are essential for the nation’s internal and external security. Subversive elements acting at the behest of Pakistan and other foreign powers are always on the lookout for opportunities to exploit such situations, turning normal protests into major law-and-order crises. At present, these elements have added yet another item to their agenda — to disrupt peace and normalcy in the Valley. They had cherished the situation that arose after the killing of a tourist in Pahalgam in April last year, as it shattered the perception of complete peace in Kashmir and hurt the economy.

Third, there appears to be a design to involve the Shia community in prolonged protests to create instability. Those behind such moves want Shias to take a frontline role and turn against the system, as they are keen to wean the community away from its anti-Pakistan stance — demonstrated in recent protests following the killing of their community members in an Islamabad mosque. This wider design could create an alarming situation where the theme of the entire Muslim Ummah is overplayed to generate chaos in Kashmir.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who has been managing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir for more than six and a half years, is leaving nothing to chance. His instructions to the police and other security agencies are clear: the situation must not go out of control under any circumstances. This time, he has found Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the same page.

Omar has appealed to mourners not to take the law into their own hands, warning that doing so could entail unwelcome consequences. He has said that attempts to disturb peace under the garb of grief will not be tolerated. Such actions would harm the people and the Valley, especially when tourism is showing signs of revival this year after suffering a devastating period in the post-Pahalgam phase.

These protests cannot — and should not — be allowed to become incubators for another round of troubles in Kashmir. Preventing that is the responsibility not only of the authorities but also of the vast majority of people who want permanent peace in their lives and in their land.

(The writer is a consulting editor, (Jammu and Kashmir), Daily World)