No military solution to Kashmir: Farooq

NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing party workers at Anantnag on Saturday. —Excelsior/Sajad Dar

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 12: Former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today said that peace cannot return to Kashmir until dialogue with Pakistan is held.
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Abdullah, while addressing a gathering at Dak Bunglow in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, said that peace in Jammu and Kashmir cannot return until dignity of people of Kashmir is restored and dialogue with Pakistan is held.
The NC president said that even if Government of India sends all its troops to Kashmir, peace can’t return here. “There is no military solution to Kashmir issue. Honestly speaking, the peace in Jammu and Kashmir can’t return even if India sends all its military force to Kashmir,” he added.
Abdullah asked that if Government of India can be part of unconditional talks with Taliban why not in Kashmir. “If New Delhi can be a part of unconditional talks with Taliban, why can’t it initiate an unconditional dialogue in Kashmir?”, he asked.
The former Chief Minister hoped that a new Government at the Centre will initiate dialogue with all stake holders. “The GoI previously held unconditional talks with different stakeholders in Kashmir during the tenure of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee but unfortunately the tempo could not be maintained.”
Abdullah stressed for result oriented time bound dialogue on Kashmir. “We cannot think of winning hearts of people by unleashing torments on people. The hearts of people can only be won if New Delhi accepts Kashmir as a political issue and re-start a time bound, result oriented dialogue process with all stake holders within and outside State,” he said.
The NC president maintained that if the party is elected with resounding mandate it will put forth a strong front against forces that are contriving to harm State’s identity and its interest. “People have had enough. The South Kashmir in particular has been at the receiving end due to sheer arrogance, misgovernment and imprudent policies of former BJP-PDP Government,” he said.
The former Chief Minister said that National Conference is not going to support any violence or violation of human rights. “How can we support something where there is suppression? It is not a question of Operation-All-Out. We will not let our people to suffer that they will be beaten inside their homes. This was never the part of policies of NC,” he said.
The NC president said that everyone is free as they live in a free country. “We as a Government will have to see that freedom of people and their expression is not curbed,” he said.
Asked whether commission will be constituted over the killings in Kashmir for last many years, Farooq said: “Omar Abdullah has already demanded a Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the killings and in case Allah helps them to get the mandate they will announce it on the very day when their new Government takes over.”
“We will appoint Truth and Reconciliation Commission to probe the killings in Kashmir and see to it that the results are brought before the people not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in the rest of the world,” Abdullah said.
He said that the NC will leave no stone unturned to rise up to the expectations of people. “We as a party owe a sense of commitment to the people of Kashmir. We don’t want our people to suffer,” he said.

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