Farooq urges India, Pakistan to open traditional routes

SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday urged India and Pakistan to “imitate the spirit of the Kartarpur corridor” in Jammu and Kashmir by opening all routes across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).

He said the initiative will not only help to boost economic activities on both sides of the border, but also help rekindle friendship between India and Pakistan.

“I urge the governments of India and Pakistan to open the traditional routes between the two countries,” Abdullah said while addressing a gathering at Dewan Bagh Baramulla in north Kashmir.

He said increased people-topeople contact and other confidence-building measures can go a long way in doing away with the “mistrust”.

He said his party has no predilection for power and has never compromised on Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Constitution.

“We were obligated to shore up the alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party-Congress following relentless and unfailing attacks on our special position by those who are inimical to the special status of our state,” he said.

Abdullah said,“I urge the incumbent administration to rollback the SAC decision of converting J&K Bank into a public sector undertaking, it will prove detrimental to working of the bank.”