Kashmir problem will be solved: Farooq

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed confidence that the Kashmir problem will be solved, like many other problems of the world, but refused to say how and when it would be resolved.
Speaking at Zee TV’s conclave this afternoon, Dr Abdullah quipped: “God knows when’’. He said this when asked to spell out as to how and when the problem will be solved.
“There is no problem in the world that can’t be solved. Have trust and hope. The problem of Kashmir will also be solved,’’ he said but added that till this problem is not resolved, there will be no peace between India and Pakistan.
Farooq said there were problems with Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka and now with Maldives.
“The problems with three neighbours have been addressed. The issue with Maldives will be resolved. Hopefully, Kashmir problem will also be solved,’’ he asserted.
Reiterating that neither India can take back the part of Kashmir which is with Pakistan nor Pakistan can take back the part of Kashmir which is with India, Dr Abdullah said: “we shouldn’t be under wrong impression. He, however, maintained that only talks will solve the issue of Kashmir.
“We have fought four wars, the last one being in Kargil but the Line of Control (LoC) is still the same. We won many areas during the wars but they all had to be restored,’’ he recalled.
Farooq said when then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was heading to Lahore in Pakistan, he had given him the suggestion that let them keep that part of Kashmir and India will keep this part of Kashmir.
“On return, Vajpayee told me that Nawaz Sharief said this was not the time for accepting the suggestion,’’ Farooq asserted.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said still there is a possibility and chance that the two countries will end their enmity as development in both the nations was affected by their relations.
He said when North Korea and United States can talk, why can’t India and Pakistan hold the dialogue? He added that infiltration won’t stop till India and Pakistan initiate dialogue.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 15, 2017 address that the Government wants to win the hearts of Kashmiris, he asked: “has anyone does that’’?
To a question, Dr Abdullah said he can’t change the stone pelters.
“We have no power. When the power will come to us, then ask me the question,’’ he said in response to an asserting that why can’t Dr Farooq Abdullah change the stone pelters.
Farooq said the people of Kashmir had integrated with India of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Moulana Azad by rejecting two-nation theory. “But, now I’m afraid that divisive politics is being played’’.
Farooq said when Pakistani raiders and army men entered Kashmir, both Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits stood together against them. He blamed Pakistan for exploiting situation in 1989 for ethnic cleansing but said it was not only the Kashmiri Pandits but even the Muslims and Sikhs had also migrated from the Valley.

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