STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday asked the Centre to accept Pakistan’s invitation for dialogue on Kashmir to resolve the “complex issue” for lasting peace in the region.
“The central government should consider the Pakistani invite for dialogue on Kashmir as golden opportunity and extend its hand,” said Abdullah, who is currently in London, in a statement issued here.
The former Chief Minister asked the Centre to give up its “ego and rigidity”, accept the Pakistani invitation and start a “meaningful and solid” dialogue process to try find a lasting solution to this long standing “complex problem” for an everlasting peace in the region.
The former union minister, however, urged India and Pakistan to involve Kashmiris from both sides in the dialougue process for its success.
“Without participation of Kashmiris, the (success of the) dialogue is impossible. Therefore, India and Pakistan should take into confidence the people on both sides of Kashmir before starting a meaningful dialogue,” he said.
He said the peace would return to Jammu and Kashmir in particular and south Asian region in general only after the Kashmir issue is treated as a “political issue” and India and Pakistan initiate peace talks to resolve it “permanently”.
“As long as the two neighbouring countries continue to delay the resolution of this long standing issue, the lurking threat to peace will continue to haunt the region with each passing day,” Abdullah said.
