I am writing these words from Dubai. I was shocked to hear that the Srinagar International Airport is closing for 12 days on account of runway repairs. I work here as an engineer. I consulted several of my friends in Dubai airport asking them if they had ever closed down the airport for runway repairs. They clearly said NO. In fact they informed me that whenever runway repair work begins, it is conducted either on off days or once a week. Here too, they said, people are first informed about this prior to the start of the work. I felt sad for several reasons. One: I won’t be able to visit Kashmir this Eid to celebrate the festival with my family. Second: how India and its Defence Ministry thinks about Kashmir and Kashmiris. And third: the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir couldn’t do anything to stop this move. My heart goes out for those patients who won’t be able to get treated in Delhi, for; they can’t be airlifted in the wake of airport closure. I sincerely hope good sense prevails and India is able to postpone the airport closure move in the larger interest of the people of Kashmir.

Sajjad Ahmad Khan
Civil Engineer
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST