SRI NAGAR: Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir was with India while that of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan lies with Pakistan.
“The destiny of Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu is with India while Azad Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan is with Pakistan,” Abdullah said while addressing National Conference workers at party headquarters in Srinagar on the first death anniversary of his cousin and party’s former General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir.
In November last year, Abdullah had said that PoK would remain with Pakistan and J&K with India.
On Thursday, Abdullah said the Government of India (GoI) disrespected the honour of Kashmiris by eroding the autonomy of the State. “If India has to win the hearts and minds of Kashmiris, it needed to fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the people of the State,” he said. Calling for friendly ties between India and Islamabad, Abdullah said there was no alternative to the peace process. “Kashmiris have the most to benefit from peace and dialogue between the two countries,” he said, adding nothing had ever come out of violence and nothing would come out of violence in the future.
Abdullah said J&K had suffered immensely due to hostility between India and Pakistan and the time has come when both countries must realise the ramifications of their animosity and bridge their trust deficit.
“I met Pakistan’s former PM Showkat Aziz in Dubai and he told me that when he was in power, India had agreed to resolve Kashmir issue,” he said adding, “If they had agreed to resolve the issue then, why don’t they do it now?”
Farooq’s son and former CM Omar Abdullah accused Delhi of dishonouring the terms and conditions of the State’s accession to the Union of India and termed the erosion of the State’s autonomy as a breach of faith that has manifested itself as political turmoil and instability in the State.