Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 24: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, today said that Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, have demonstrated that they will not allow the hawks to set the agenda or Indo-Pak relations.
Speaking to reporters here, Omar said: “They have shown that they will not allow forces inimical to good Indo-Pak relations to grow and not allow them to set the agenda, which is a good thing for both the countries, especially Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said that some people in Pakistan had expressed reservations about Sharief’s visit to India and some had even issued threats to him.
Omar said: “We appreciate both decisions. One, Modi inviting Sharief and second, Sharief accepting the invitation. Both decisions, to invite and the acceptance were not easy.”
The Chief Minister hoped that there will be improvement in the relations between two countries with Modi-Sharif meeting and said that natural beneficiaries of the development will be people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Jammu and Kashmir has always suffered due to poor relations between India and Pakistan and has always benefitted from good relations between the two countries,” he said.
“May be Modi meeting Nawaz on the first day at work will beneficial for us as they are trying to build relations from the first day which otherwise, we have seen, takes lot of time. By then there is change in either India or in Pakistan and the process has to be started a fresh”, said Chief Minister.
He said that he will push for a dialogue process between the Centre and leadership in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the Hurriyat Conference joins it too.
“Perhaps with this sort of initiatives, there is scope for an initiative between the Centre and the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the State Government will be definitely pushing for this. The Hurriyat needs to come forward now and participate in the dialogue. For too long, sections of Hurriyat have been willing to talk behind closed doors with functionaries of Central Government but they are unwilling to come forward and participate in a meaningful dialogue,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister rejected any trilateral dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir. “It has been very clear. The moment you start asking questions if there are going to be talks on Jammu and Kashmir, you are setting up for the failure of this initiative. This is not about talks about Kashmir. This is about a new Prime Minister establishing a working relationship with his counterpart in a country which is very important to us,” he said.
On the change in BJP attitude towards Pakistan, Omar said they came to understand reality after coming to power. “When in Opposition, the tune is always different. They come to understand the reality when they come in power and the tunes change. Policy of Modi Government will be known only when the Government is formed,” he said.
Earlier in his tweets, Chief Minister said that he is glad that Sharif has accepted the invitation to attend Modi’s oath-taking ceremony. “Very glad to hear Pak PM has accepted invite, shows that he can prevail over forces inimical to good relations with India,” Omar wrote on twitter.com.
Omar described the development as new beginning. “I hope that this will mark a new beginning in ties between our two countries. The people of J&K will be watching closely,” he wrote.
Chief Minister said that the Modi-Sharif handshake will overshadow the presence of other foreign dignitaries attending swearing in ceremony. “Can’t help feel sorry for others taking oath or attending because the only photo of that will matter now will be the Modi-Sharif handshake,” he wrote.
Omar said that he has been invited by both President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi for swearing-in ceremony. “I have been invited as the Chief Minister by the President. I have received a card from the President as well as a letter by Modi,” he added.
Omar said that he will attend the ceremony that is being held on Monday evening. “If Prime Minister of Pakistan can travel all the way from Islamabad, then CM of J&K should also participate in what could possibly be a beginning of an important phase for Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
Omar said there is enough time for the State Government to start talking to the people at Centre. “Let the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister and others assume office and then we will start talking to them about the matters that really matter for people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
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