Peace in J&K possible only when India, Pakistan talk: Farooq Abdullah

SRINAGAR: Former chief minister and opposition National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday asserted that bloodshed will end and peace will return to Jammu and Kashmir only through dialogue between India and Pakistan.

“There is no way but talks. India and Pakistan must put their pride aside and sit down on the table and talk,” he said while speaking to reporters after visiting the home of Humayun Bhat, a deputy superintendent of the J&K police, who along with two Army officers was killed in a gunfight with separatist militants in southern Anantnag district on Wednesday.

Terming these killings a “trauma” for the bereaved families and the entire nation, Mr. Abdullah said, “Three officers have been martyred, several other security personnel are in the midst of fight between life and death. This ravage has been happening here for many years and I don’t see an end to it. Another encounter (between militants and security forces) is going on in Rajouri. Every day we come to know about these clashes and the government shouts daily that militancy is over. Now tell me, is militancy over ?”

He asserted that militancy and violence will not stop unless the government finds a way out towards restoring lasting peace in J&K. He said, “Hostility will not bring us peace…dialogue will. See how Ukraine has been devastated and there seems to be no way out there either but Russia and Ukraine and its allies will have to talk.”

When asked who should be talked to for bringing about peace in J&K, he said the two countries (India and Pakistan) must talk. “Talking to Farooq Abdullah will not bear any fruit. There should be dialogue between the two countries which have a conflict over it (Kashmir). This fasad (conflict) has been lingering and accompanying them since independence. It is vital to find a solution to it.”

He said, “Our jawans and officers and our people are being killed on a daily basis. The common people too are being made to suffer. They are being tormented to reveal where the militants came from and where they go. We are enduring that too.”

When a reporter told him that the Narendra Modi government and the BJP do not want to talk to Pakistan and instead have vowed to liberate PoJK, Mr. Abdullah retorted, “Do it…Farooq Abdullah will not stop you from doing it. If they want to do it and think this will resolve the conflict here, let them do it.” He added, “But I want to tell you ladai (fight) has not resolved issues in the past nor will it do it in future. India and Pakistan have fought four wars and the border (LoC) stands there and conflict remains unresolved.”

He said that the Kokernag and Rajouri like incidents will continue to occur in J&K until and unless India and Pakistan sit across the negotiating table to find a solution amicably. We are fools if we think that it (violence) will stop. We will keep losing lives. There is no way but dialogue”.

Reacting to his assertions, BJP’s J&K unit president Ravinder Raina said, “At a time when our valiant soldiers are fighting and sacrificing their lives to thwart the terrorists, no one should engage in politics. No statement should be made that hurts the sentiments of the people.” He added, “Pakistan is aiding and abetting terrorism in J&K. We have held talks with Pakistan many times since 1947. (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee went to Lahore by bus but Pakistan is a country which will never give up its mischievous activities. Terrorism and talks cannot go on simultaneously.”