Farooq asks Centre to engage Pak to stop ceasefire violations

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today asked the Centre to engage Pakistan in a meaningful dialogue to end ceasefire violations, while he emphasised that people in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir were living under perpetual threat.

"Peace would remain a distant dream unless Pakistan Army is taken on board in peace process," Abdullah said while addressing a public meeting in Surankote, close to Line of Control, this morning, observing that the neighbouring country had multiple power centres.

He wondered whether any serious effort is being made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevail upon Islamabad, as the ground situation on borders continued to be grim.

The people are suffering and the normal activity has come to a grinding halt in the border habitations, he said while referring to spurt in ceasefire violations in recent days.

He also criticised the state government for showing "insensitivity and callousness" while dealing with the situation in the forward areas.

"What a tragedy, the government has turned so callous that even the injured keep waiting for being shifted to hospitals," he alleged.

The former Union minister complimented border dwellers for facing the challenge with fortitude and said NC was with them at this hour of crisis.

The former JK chief minister said, "Ultimately, the end receivers of hostilities between India and Pakistan remain the people of this state."

"Weakening of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir from time to time has generated mistrust among the people," he claimed while tracing back its genesis to the era of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq.

He alleged that "opportunistic" politicians remained instrumental in "hollowing" Article 370 and extension of central laws. In this context, he referred to the role played by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in his various capacities.

"Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is architect of AFSPA," Abdullah alleged, adding that he has all along been pro-active in "usurping the rights of people and trampling democracy in the state".

"Today, Sayeed-led government is polarising the administration and creating a wedge on the basis of religion and region," he alleged.

Taking a jibe at the PDP, he said the people are fed up with hollow promises.

"Where is the huge central package, which the coalition was yelling from roof-tops," he asked, saying the flood sufferers across the state have been virtually left in lurch.
Abdullah said Rajouri and Poonch belt has huge potential to grow on tourist map which will give boost to its economy.

In this context, he referred to Mughal Road and said this will prove to be the highway of progress and development for the area.

"What a coincidence, Omar Abdullah was the first to drive on Mughal Road conceived by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah," he said and gave the background of its constructions while mentioning "obstacles" created by vested interests.
"Border skirmishes were not going to solve problems, but instead these will further compound the situation and limit scope for peace in the region," he said.