Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, issued a stark warning on Tuesday, cautioning that the Union Territory could face a fate similar to that of Gaza in the absence of political dialogue. The National Conference President emphasized the urgency of leaders from both India and Pakistan engaging in meaningful discussions to address bilateral issues and promote regional stability.
Speaking to ANI, Farooq Abdullah invoked the wisdom of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, stating, “Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that we can change our friends but not our neighbors. If we remain friendly with our neighbors, both will progress.” He highlighted the importance of fostering friendly relations with neighboring countries for mutual progress.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance on the matter, Abdullah noted, “PM Modi also said that ‘war is not an option now’ and ‘the matter should be resolved through dialogue.” Expressing concern over the lack of dialogue between India and Pakistan, he urged both nuclear-powered nations to initiate talks.
Farooq Abdullah drew attention to the willingness expressed by Nawaz Sharif, the potential Prime Minister of Pakistan, to engage in dialogue with India. However, he questioned the reasons behind the apparent reluctance from the Indian side.
“If we do not find a solution through dialogue, we (Kashmir) will meet the same fate as Gaza and Palestine, which are being bombed by Israel,” Abdullah warned, emphasizing the potential consequences of failing to address the longstanding issues through peaceful means.
Recalling historical diplomatic interactions between India and Pakistan, Abdullah pointed out instances like Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan in 1999 before the Kargil War and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise meeting with Nawaz in 2015. He highlighted that continuous attempts by Pakistan to infiltrate Indian territory with terrorists have strained relations.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 contributed to the deterioration of India-Pakistan ties. Abdullah’s cautionary remarks follow a recent terror attack in the Poonch sector that claimed the lives of four soldiers, intensifying concerns about the security situation in the region.
