National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said Kashmir was a “dispute” between India and Pakistan, which can be resolved only through dialogue. He, however, added that any resolution agreed upon on Kashmir should satisfy all stakeholders.
“Kashmir is a dispute between two countries (India andPakistan). No matter what they say it is still a dispute. It is still an issuein the UN. The UN observers are still here and in that Kashmir (across LoC) aswell,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah was addressing party workers at Hazratbal here onthe 19th death anniversary of his mother Begum Akbar Jehan.
He said Kashmir issue can be resolved only when they (Indiaand Pakistan) talk to each other. “Then, they should talk to everybody. Indiawill have to talk to people in this Kashmir and Pakistan will need to talk topeople in Azad Kashmir (Sic). Then, people of Kashmir and Azad Kashmir shouldtalk to each other. It was decided earlier also… (Sic),” said Abdullah, flankedby his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and senior party leaders.
Reiterating that Kashmir was a dispute Abdullah, the MP fromSrinagar and former chief minister, said talks have been held on Kashmir rightfrom the time of Jawahar lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister.
“(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi also went there (Pakistan)and talked to them,” said Abdullah.
He said now they (Government of India) were saying thattalks can be held only when militancy ends. “See what is happening inAfghanistan. Talks are going on amid bullets. It will have a result,” saidAbdullah.
“Why don’t they adopt the same policy here? They will haveto talk to Pakistan and the Prime Minister will have to talk to people here andPakistan Prime Minister will have to talk to people of that Kashmir,” saidAbdullah.
He said final resolution of Kashmir should satisfy allstakeholders. The end result of the talks on Kashmir, Abdullah said, should besuch that nobody involved in these talks should feel to have ended up on thelosing side.
The National Conference leader said there was no alternativeto dialogue on Kashmir. “Nothing can be achieved through military might orcoercion including by the NIA,” he said. “This issue will continue to bethere unless it is resolved by talking to people.”
Asked if talks should be held with Hurriyat Conference,Abdullah said dialogue should be held with everyone.
Abdullah said India was a country for all irrespective oftheir religion. “But this country has started to change now. It is not the sameIndia what it was in 1947. They want to change map of this country. They wantHindustan for Hindus only,” he said.
He cautioned people against decision of RSS to set upshakhas in Kashmir. “We will have to make people aware about it,” he said.
He demanded revocation of an order to restrict movement ofcivilian vehicles on a stretch of Srinagar-Jammu national highway because ofthe ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
“We raised this issue in Parliament also. This order iswrong and should be revoked,” he said.
Abdullah criticized Divisional Commissioner Kashmir BaseerKhan for his statement that there was no restriction on civilian traffic onhighway amid the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
“I saw the statement of the Divisional Commissioner thatthere is no ban. This is a lie. I travelled (on highway) and saw how people arebeing stopped. I ask Divisional Commissioner that whenever you give anystatement present truth to the people,” Abdullah said.