JOIN USNational Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday pitched for autonomy on both sides of Jammu and Kashmir, saying it is the only realistic solution to nearly 7-decade vexed problem.
“We owe peace and dignified life to posterity and that can be achieved only by converting the present dividing line between the two neighbouring countries into line of peace,” Abdullah said while addressing workers in border Rajouri and Poonch districts.
He said hostilities of past nearly 17 years have retarded growth on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and time has come when India and Pakistan should take a bold initiative by calling a spade a spade.
He referred to the wars of the past and continued border skirmishes, saying these have only added to the miseries of people of Kashmir, who have faced major brunt of turmoil during the past over two and half decades.
“The soft borders would open up vistas of economic opportunities besides enabling hassle free exchange of people, which in turn will be a major dividend to peace and tranquillity in the region,” the National Conference (NC) president said, hoping that good sense will prevail upon all the stake holders.
The former Union minister said denial of autonomy has brought Jammu and Kashmir to present morass, which if ignored anymore can prove detrimental to larger interests of the state. In this context, he referred to the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly over a decade and half ago, saying that was reflective of the urges and aspirations of the regions and sub-regions of the state.