Kashmir issue can't be solved unless India, Pak talk: Farooq Abdullah

December 07, 2016 22:56

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah today stressed on the need for converting Line of Control as a permanent border and initiation of talks with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"How will you resolve Kashmir issue without talking to Pakistan? The two countries have to talk to each other. Also the Centre needs to initiate talks with the constituents of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir to find an amicable solution to the issue," the National Conference president said during the 'Agenda Aajtak' event in New Delhi.

He warned that if the Centre continued to ignore Kashmir, it will be up in flames once again. "... Fire is there which can be low on intensity for some time but it can again rise. Till when will we sacrifice the lives of our people and soldiers," he asked.

"I know many people will not like it but there is only one solution to the Kashmir issue which is that this part of Kashmir remains part of India and that part of Kashmir remains part of Pakistan," Abdullah said.

He had last year claimed that even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had offered Pakistan to make LoC permanent border during his Lahore visit in in 1999.

The former chief minister said that the Centre should take precise steps which can solve the Kashmir issue so that people live there peacefully and prosper. "As of now, there is no progress."

"I would like people to remember when (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee went to Lahore, he said that India regards Pakistan as a nation and look forward to living in peace. People fear to visit Kashmir... Why is this fear, this fear should not have been there."

He said that Kashmir joined India because of its secular credentials where people from different religions have equal rights. "But we are hearing voices today that India is a Hindu state and everyone is Hindu. Does this mean that a Muslim, Sikh or a Christan cannot be an Indian," he asked, adding the government should allay these fears by "crushing" such communal voices.

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