SRINAGAR, June 12: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has pitched for resuming talks with Pakistan, saying the new government in Pakistan “is willing to have a peaceful atmosphere with us” and India should “open the door to them”.
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In an interview with news agency, Farooq Abdullah, a former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, also pitched for “reviving” the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
“We still have problems with our neighbour. These problems will not be solved by military action… Unless we talk to our neighbours, we cannot solve it. The terrorists are coming through borders, and they will continue coming. Whichever government will be there tomorrow, will have to face the same thing… We need to come out of these situations… We have a major Yatra coming (Amarnath Yatra). Any small incident that might take place in that will be blown up in the rest of the country. We Kashmiris are not responsible for these things,” Abdullah said.
He was responding to a query on the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The government in Pakistan, I think they are wanting to have a peaceful atmosphere with us. Let’s open the door to them. And let us revive SAARC. SAARC was made for the good of this entire area,” he said.
At least nine people were killed and 42 others were injured in the attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori shrine that took place on June 9, in Reasi district. The bus plunged into a gorge following the attack.
Five jawans and a sub-divisional special police officer (SDPO) were injured in the encounter that began after terrorists opened fire at a joint checkpost of police and Rashtriya Rifles at an army base in the Chattargala area on the Bhadarwah-Pathankot road in Doda on June 11 night.
Abdullah said military action cannot solve problems and referred to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas.
Answering a query on assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said polls will take place. “The election took place for the Parliament also when the incidents took place. Elections cannot be prevented by this…” (Agencies)
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