'Impossible to improve ties with Pakistan if infiltration continues'

 Changing his stated position on normalising ties with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday made a U-turn by saying it was impossible for India to normalise relations with the neighbouring country till it stopped infiltration and ceasefire violations.

“The prime minister (Dr Manmohan Singh) spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in clear terms in New York and told him (Sharif) that infiltration and ceasefire violations should stop,” Omar told reporters after teeing-off the 17th All India Police Golf Tournament at the Royal Springs Golf Course.

However, the chief minister asserted that the relations between the two countries would not normalise till infiltration and ceasefire violations “don’t stop from across the border. We will definitely talk, but the results that we want out of that dialogue can’t be achieved in such situation (on borders),” he added.

While hailing Prime Minister Singh for his decision to stick to the scheduled meeting with Sharif in New York last month despite terror attacks, Omar had said, “Talks were the only means of resolving the issues between the two nations.”

The chief minister declined to comment on a just-concluded operation against holed-up militants in the Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

“Calling the operation second Kargil is hype created by media. Did you hear the Army saying that it was a second Kargil? Did you hear the civil administration or Government of India saying it was a second Kargil? The name of second Kargil was given by you people,” Omar said. “You create the hype and how can you blame the Army for that?”

The attempts of infiltration take place continuously, especially in this season. As winter is approaching and after snowfall, the infiltration gets not just difficult but impossible, they (militant handlers) try to send as many ultras they could before the winter,” he said.