‘Azad Kashmir isn’t possible as part of it belongs to Pakistan’
SRINAGAR: The Centre’s new dialogue process will not succeed until India talks to Pakistan as a part of the region belongs to Islamabad, former chief minister Farooq Abdullah said.
He also said on Saturday that the demand for independence was wrong. Abdullah, the leader of National Conference, was responding to queries from media persons on the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as the Centre’s special representative for dialogues to resolve issues in Kashmir, primarily the three-decade-old insurgency.
“I can only tell that he indulged in dialogue here. But that won’t solve the issue because this is an issue between India and Pakistan,” he said, adding the government of India has to talk to the government of Pakistan. He said that people have to realise that a part of Kashmir is under Indian control and another under Pakistan.
“I tell them in plain terms — not only to Indians but also to the world — that the other side belongs to Pakistan and this side to India. This won’t change. Let them fight as many wars as they want,” he said. “And when the situation is such, they have to talk, so that we live in peace; both parts live in peace; and for that, it is imperative to grant autonomy to both the parts,” he said.
‘INDIA BETRAYED US’
Abdullah also maintained that the demand for azadi by the separatists was wrong and an independent Kashmir was not possible. “All three of them have atom bombs. We have nothing except Allah’s name. Those talking about azadi are talking wrong.”
The NC patron also said India “betrayed” Kashmiris. “India didn’t treat us well… They didn’t recognise the love with which we chose to join them,” he said.