Omar Abdullah, all set to be the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday cited dialogue and not war as the only option for India and Pakistan and urged the two countries not to let "bitterness" creep into their ties which directly affect the people of the state.

"I want to tell New Delhi and Islamabad from this stage that war is not an option as nothing can be achieved through it," the 38-year-old National Conference leader said as he returned from Delhi to a tumultuous welcome from party workers and supporters here.

The guns cannot solve any problem and dialogue is the only way to address all issues between the two countries, Omar, who entered an alliance with the Congress to form the next government in the border state, said.

"If Kashmir is to be resolved and relations between India and Pakistan improved, it will be through dialogue only. I appeal to the two countries not to allow bitterness to creep into their relations," Omar said, addressing an enthusiastic crowd lining up several kms of the road leading to Srinagar International Airport to greet him.

Omar said India and Pakistan should avoid taking threatening postures as the nature of relations between the two countries had a direct bearing on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The relations between India and pakistan directly affect the people of our state, whether the relations are good or bad," he said.

Omar, who led the National Conference to emerge as the single largest party in the assembly elections, said the new government, which he will be heading, will make efforts to improve the relations between the two neighbouring countries.