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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: Former Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah said today that war is no solution to any problem and it will only destroy the hard work done by the people and the country as he called for opening channels of talks with Pakistan to resolve the problems.
“I have briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kashmir is not a law and order problem. A political initiative is required to work out a solution,’’ he told the reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
Voicing concern over situation in the Kashmir valley as well as borders with Pakistan, Farooq, who had recently won Lok Sabha by-election from Srinagar constituency, said border tension is not good for the people, the State and the country.
“War is no solution to any problem. In fact, it will destroy all the hard work done by the people. Pakistan has also said that the issue is unresolved. We have to open the channels of talks (with Pakistan as well as with the people of Kashmir),’’ he said.
Farooq said the Parliamentary delegation had earlier visited Jammu and Kashmir and gave its report. “There is another report given by the three Interlocutors. Nothing was done on any of the three reports. The Government should initiate dialogue,’’ he added.
Replying to a question on Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Moosa’s statement that militants are fighting for Islam in Kashmir, Farooq didn’t agree with statement and asked: “where it has been written in the Islam that we have to wage war and kill the people. Please show me the book.’’
“It is a State of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Bhuddists. Does Islam say kill innocents? If you kill one innocent person, you will go to hell,” he said.
Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Farooq appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare a “unilateral truce” during the holy month of Ramzan.
The “bold” move will show that India wants to have peace and is ready to sit together to resolve the issue, he added.
“I will appeal (to Prime Minister Narendra Modi). Ramzan is approaching. It is just a few days away. It will be better if they announce unilateral truce,” Abdullah said here, a day after two persons were killed in heavy shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district.
Asked about the ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Abdullah said that despite the hostile situation in Jammu and Kashmir and on the borders, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had announced a unilateral ceasefire against anti-terror operations in the year 2000.
“It has become a serious problem. To resolve this, we have to take decisions. There was a very serious problem… when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister and he took a bold decision, went to Lahore and announced unilateral ceasefire during the month of Ramdan,” Dr Abdullah recalled.
Announcing a unilateral truce against terror operations, Vajpayee had on November 19, 2000 said in a statement, “I hope that our gesture will be fully appreciated and all violence in the State and infiltration across the Line of Control and the International Border will cease and peace will prevail”.
Later in 2003, the Indo-Pak ceasefire came into force.
“Time has come when both countries should move forward towards it. Four wars have been fought and except death and destruction, we have got nothing,” the National Conference president and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar said.
The holy month of ‘Ramadan’ will begin towards May-end.
Abdullah said the situation in Kashmir “is getting bad” and tension is increasing on the borders.
“A situation should not be allowed which will result in a war. It is not good for us. It will only cause destruction. So there is need to have talks,” he added.
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