Known for making provocative remarks, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Sunday described Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan.
He said his party would continue to fight for that State’s autonomy as Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India and PoK belongs to Pakistan.
Addressing his party workers on Sunday in Baramullah over the Centre’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir’s demand for autonomy, Abdullah said it was not on the Centre to decide but a decision that should be taken by the people of the State.
He also advocated the opening of the Sharada Peeth temple in PoK for the Kashmiri Pandits after the Kartarpur Corridor.
However, Abdullah observed that the territory of PoK belongs to Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir is part of India.
The NC chairman said his party stands for all paths that lead to India-Pakistan friendship. “I believe friendship between the two nations is most important for this State. The day friendly relations begin between the two nations, the Kashmir issue will be resolved on its own.”
Reacting to allegations made by Peoples’ Conference chairman Sajad Lone, Abdullah said: “His [Sajjad’s] father Abdul Ghani Lone had once come to me and said he is going to Pakistan to fetch weapons but I advised him against it. I told him no issue can be solved through weapons and that it will only lead to destruction.”
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On NC’s alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s People Democratic Party (PDP), he said his party was forced to make alliance because of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) actions in the State.
Though his son and former CM of the state Omar Abdullah confirmed that they (NC and PDP) could form government but would not fight election as ally.
To save the state from BJP’s aggression and divisive politics NC had taken initiative to support PDP, Omar said in Twitter. Now the state’s assembly has been dissolved and the Kashmir Valley is waiting for assembly elections; which might be scheduled next year.
