Right to self-determination not viable option in J-K, says Omar

President of National Conference Omar Abdullah has said the right to self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir is 8220;not a viable option8221;. Speaking at a two-day convention organised by the Justice Foundation Kashmir Centre8217; at the House of Commons,

Abdullah suggested the setting up of a 8220;Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir in the manner of South Africa to arrive at the truth8221;. Expressing his disappointment over the fact that some of the top Indian leaders from the state were not invited to the conference, Abdullah said the main problem is the 8220;pigeonhole mentality8221; of the people.8221;They all stay fixed in their views and never had a real exchange of views and opinions,8221; the Indian leader told the delegates at the conference on 8220;Sixty Years of Kashmir Dispute: A Way forward8221;, which concluded on Thursday. Highlighting the impediments in the Indo-Pak dialogue, Abdullah said if a proposal like demilitarisation of the region is presented to Islamabad and New Delhi at the same time and effort is made to understand India8217;s strategic concerns about China and the two countries manage to get Beijing to agree to a demilitarised zone, only then will the proposal be feasible.