National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday highlighted the persistence of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising that attacks like the recent ambush near Gulmarg would continue unless India and Pakistan found a path to friendship. He pointed out that such a relationship could potentially resolve the Union Territory's long-standing issues.
On Thursday, two soldiers and two Army porters lost their lives after terrorists ambushed a military vehicle near Gulmarg in Baramulla district, north Kashmir. The incident also left one soldier and one porter injured.
According to news agency PTI, Farooq Abdullah, addressing reporters, stated, "Such attacks will continue to take place in this state. You know where they come from and it will not stop until some way is found to get out of this trouble. I have been witnessing it for the last 30 years, innocent people are getting killed."
The former Chief Minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir reiterated his stance on Jammu and Kashmir's status, asserting, "We are not going to become a part of Pakistan. So, why are they doing this? To disrupt our future? To make us poorer?"
He criticised Pakistan for its role in the unrest, urging the neighbouring country to focus on its own challenges rather than instigating violence in Jammu and Kashmir. "They are getting ruined themselves but are ruining us as well," Abdullah remarked.
Abdullah appealed for peace, urging Pakistan to halt the violence and seek a path to friendship with India. "If they don't find a way, the future will be very difficult," he warned.
Paying homage to those who died in the Gulmarg ambush, Abdullah said, "I pay my tribute to those who have been martyred. I apologise to their families."
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When questioned if Pakistan was frustrated over the high voter turnout in the recent assembly elections, Abdullah refrained from speculating. "I do not know what happened. People voted in the assembly polls and now the assembly will work for the people. We hope the Centre grants full statehood so that the government is able to work for the people," he stated.
Commenting on recent meetings between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union ministers in Delhi, Farooq Abdullah stressed the importance of maintaining coordination with the Centre for smooth governance in Jammu and Kashmir. "When I was the chief minister, I used to say this every time that coordination is a good thing because everything is with them," he added.