Omar Abdullah makes a U-turn, says wars can never resolve issues

Two days after asking the Centre to explore other options if Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday made a U-turn by saying wars have never solved any issue and have only brought destruction and miseries.

“No one in Jammu and Kashmir or in the country is in favour of war as the wars are no solution to any issue,” he said while addressing a public gathering in the Tangdar area, the remotest village on the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

 Omar said the shelling by Pakistan has increased his concerns for the lives of people living in frontier areas. 

“I would continue to urge the Union Government to take up (the shellings) with Pakistan and resolve the issue so that peace would prevail in the border areas,” he said.  

The chief minister made a statement on Monday asking the Centre to look at other options if talks are not helpful to end the ceasefire violations along the LoC. 

“It cannot be a one-sided affair, we can’t be at the receiving end without giving any response,” he had said. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday played down Omar’s suggestions, saying: “We cannot become tougher by talking tough.”

However, Omar said on Wednesday that friendship requires equal response from either sides as is like the clap made with two hands. “If one side extends the hand of friendship the other side also needs to reciprocate,” he said and expressed serious concern over the violation of ceasefire and shelling at the LoC and International Border.

He said the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan signed and implemented in 2003 has been the highest reward for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those living along the border.

The chief minister hoped that the situation will come down to normalcy and the two neighbours will hold dialogues to settle all outstanding issues in a peaceful way.

Both factions of the Hurriyat Conference attacked Omar on Tuesday over his “other option” remark, saying that the chief minister has shown a distinct lack of understanding regarding the consequences of his “bullet for bullet” talk.