Dialogue only option for India-Pak: Omar Abdullah

Omar Abdullah cited dialogue and not war as the only option for India and Pakistan and urged the two countries not to let ‘bitterness’ creep into their ties.

Omar Abdullah, all set to be the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday cited dialogue and not war as the only option for India and Pakistan and urged the two countries not to let “bitterness” creep into their ties which directly affect the people of the state.

“I want to tell New Delhi and Islamabad from this stage that war is not an option as nothing can be achieved through it,” the 38-year-old National Conference leader said as he returned from Delhi to a tumultuous welcome from party workers and supporters in Srinagar.

The guns cannot solve any problem and dialogue is the only way to address all issues between the two countries, Omar, who entered an alliance with the Congress to form the next government in the border state, said.

“If Kashmir is to be resolved and relations between India and Pakistan improved, it will be through dialogue only. I appeal to the two countries not to allow bitterness to creep into their relations,” Omar said, addressing an enthusiastic crowd lining up several kms of the road leading to Srinagar International Airport to greet him.

Omar said India and pakistan should avoid taking threatening postures as the nature of relations between the two countries had a direct bearing on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The relations between India and pakistan directly affect the people of our state, whether the relations are good or bad,” he said.

Omar, who led the National Conference to emerge as the single largest party in the assembly elections, said the new government, which he will be heading, will make efforts to improve the relations between the two neighbouring countries.

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Without mentioning the issue of reduction of troops in the state, Omar said soon after being chosen to head the NC-Congress government in the state, he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to reduce the “pressure of the gun” on the people of the state.

“I met with Prime Minister, Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram and told them there has been a lot of bloodshed over the past 20 years. (Now), there is need to reduce the pressure of the gun from the people of the state so that they can live a peaceful life,” he added.

Turning his focus to the domestic issues of the state, he said people of the state were not asking too much.

“They are not asking for 21st century (amenities) …

they are seeking 20th century facilities like good roads, electricity at reasonable rates, drinking water and employment avenues. I promise our efforts will be to deliver on these,” the NC president said.

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He said people of the state, especially the youth had lots of expectations from him, National Conference, Congress and the new government.

“The youth of the state are expecting more than they have expected from any other CM of the state. I promise them that over the next six years I will work hard, day and night, to solve their problems,” the 38-year-old leader said.

Omar thanked the people of the state who came out to vote, irrespective of the party they voted for, saying the just-concluded elections were a “historic success”.