Only PM Can Represent Us: Farooq

JAMMU- Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah today questioned the usefulness of Hurriyat delegation to Paki¬stan in sorting out problems in Kashmir and said only direct talks between prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan chief executive General Pervez Musharraf would he purposeful for bringing peace in the region.

'Kashmir is part of India and only the prime minister can represent us in any dia¬logue’, Dr. Abdullah said after inaugurating a B. Ed college in private sector at Tarore, 22 kilometers from here this morning. He however, added that no authority, even the prime minister, can never af-ford to think of parting with an inch of Kashmir, 'which was, is and will remain proud part of the nation'.

The chief minister said that after failing to annex Kashmir in favour wars, Islamabad has switched over to proxy war for the past about 12 years. He said the foreigners are attacking se-curity pickets and targeting nationalist forces. Everyday National Conference workers, village defence committee members and SPOs are killed. They are also after those who have laid their arms after real¬ising the futility of gun, Dr. Abdullah said.

"Pakistanis out to eliminate those carrying tricolour in Kashmir thereby snapping the relationship the people of the valley have tied with rest of the nation, but we are determined to give them a befitting fight 'Even if Farooq is killed, Kash¬mir will never go to Pakistan', he declared.

According to NAFA, the chief minister said APHC lacked mass support. “It has only militant support. If that support is withdrawn, it will collapse. Why are they eager to go to Pakistan? They are already in touch with Pak through its mission in India. In fact, the APHC is the creation of Pakistan, he said.