Pakistan will never get Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

By NewsGram Staff Writer

London: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah jilted the thought that threat of a nuclear war is a solution to the Kashmir issue, stressing that Kashmir would never be a part of Pakistan and dialogue is the best way to "move forward".

Participating in a programme titled 'A Conversation on Jammu and Kashmir', Abdullah conceded that Kashmir has been the main concern between India and Pakistan and said: "What is important is dialogue between the two nations to get to some point of understanding. There is no way, by threats of war or using atom bomb and saying that we have nuclear weapon, that does not solve the problem."

"One thing is absolutely clear: borders won't change how much countries want to change it, borders will not change… they (Pakistan) are not going to get Kashmir even if they try over the sky. That is not going to happen. So why cause further miseries for nothing. Why don't they realise it is the Muslim population dying this side and Muslim population that is dying that side."

Abdullah said: "They bomb us and we bomb them. It is innocent people who die. How long, 65 years. Enough. I would like to tell both India and Pakistan: For God's sake. Enough is enough. Let us get together and move forward rather than live in tragedies."

He added "the truth is, Kashmir is never going to be a part of Pakistan, whether Farooq Abdullah lives or dies. It is never going to happen in many centuries to come. So let us draw a different friendship. Come and enjoy Gulmarg, Pehlgam and the gardens Mughals made. Come and enjoy the Kashmiri dishes we cook. Give something to us as tourists."

With inputs from TOI