Farooq Abdullah bats for greater autonomy to both Kashmirs

Abdullah said that India and Pakistan should "provide greater autonomy" to Kashmir under their control and make borders irrelevant by "allowing free travel and trade" across it.

Saying that neither India nor Pakistan has the capability to wrest parts of Kashmir from each other’s control, National Conference patron and former Union minister Farooq Abdullah batted for greater autonomy in both Kashmirs and making the Line of Control (LoC) irrelevant.

“Both the countries have atomic bombs,” Abdullah said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function organised to commemorate 11th birth anniversary of his father. “Are we going to drop these bombs on each other and get wiped out”.

Abdullah said that India and Pakistan should “provide greater autonomy” to Kashmir under their control and make borders irrelevant by “allowing free travel and trade” across it.

The former Union minister, who has also served a the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir three times, welcomed the thaw in Indo-Pak relations. “It is a welcome step,” he said about the shaking of hands between Prime minister Narendra Modified and Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharief in Paris. “We are not aware what they talked about but let’s hope they find some way to resolve Kashmir issue”.

Abdullah also welcomed the proposed visit of foreign minister Sushi Swaraj to Pakistan saying he hopes that the visit would help to improve relations between the two countries.

“Let’s hope that it leads to resumption of dialogue process and resolution of all outstanding issues between the two countries,” he said.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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