Mufti sabotaged Indo-Pak NSA-level talks: Omar Abdullah

Omar, the working president of National Conference (NC), was speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of a function to mark the 33rd death anniversary of his grandfather and party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Hazratbal.

He said when Sayeed did not allow Hurriyat leaders to talk to Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi, how would he facilitate their dialogue with the Centre as mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of BJP-PDP coalition.

“Where has that Mufti gone, who used to say that this is the battle of ideas? Those people, with whom his thinking does not match, are arrested. You said in your agenda for alliance (CMP) that you will facilitate dialogue between the Centre and the Hurriyat. (But) when you did not permit Hurriyat to talk to Pakistan in Delhi, how would you let them talk to the Centre.

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“Even if I or Farooq (Abdullah) sahab have lakhs of shortcomings, but never were Hurriyat leaders arrested to prevent them from meeting Pakistani leaders in the 12 years that we (Abdullah and me) ruled the state,” he said.

Omar however, also said Pakistan was deliberately creating obstacles in the way of dialogue.

“The atmosphere which is being created is not a good thing. A threat after threat is given. Rather than creating a good atmosphere, they are talking of making the situation worse. The NSA talks did not happen. Now, the DGMO talks are in danger.

“We are hearing that Pakistan wants the UN to monitor ceasefire. They know that such a thing will never be acceptable to India. So, you are deliberately creating obstacles in the way of dialogue. What benefit does it serve?” Omar said.

He said both India and Pakistan should stop their guns on the borders and resolve the issues through dialogue.

“They should stop their guns on both the sides and issuing these threats should be stopped, then there will be some betterment in the situation and we will make a forward movement on talks. We all know that there is no solution to this issue than talks.

“If a solution would have happened due to gun, then we have been facing the gun for the 25 years but we aren’t anywhere near a solution. India and Pakistan have fought three-and-a-half wars, the issue has not been resolved,” he said.

He said it was the responsibility of both the countries to create a conducive atmosphere for talks.

“If it (issue) has to be resolved, it is through talks only and it is the responsibility of both India and Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere for talks,” he said.