PoK belongs to Pakistan like Kashmir to India, says Farooq Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Lok Sabha member, Farooq Abdullah on Sunday courted a controversy saying Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir belongs to Pakistan just like J&K belongs to India.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. (Photo: PTI/File)

SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Lok Sabha member, Farooq Abdullah on Sunday courted a controversy saying Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir belongs to Pakistan just like J&K belongs to India. He said the part of the state under Pakistan's administration is a part of the neighbouring country, while the rest of the state is a part of India. He said this while talking to the media in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. Abdullah also said the day India and Pakistan become friends, Kashmir issue would be resolved automatically. "The National Conference (NC) has always supported friendly relations between India and Pakistan. The day these two countries become true friends, Kashmir issue would automatically get resolved." Asked whether the National Conference would have some different proposal than the demand for internal autonomy if it comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the autonomy is his party's only proposal to improve Centre-state relationship. He rejected the suggestion that the Central government has turned down the autonomy demand. "The Centre cannot reject that demand as the people of the state have absolute power to raise such a demand under the constitution," he asserted. The National Conference president 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 would not only help boost economic activities on both sides of the border, but also help rekindle the flame of friendship between India and Pakistan. "The states topography afforded it a geographical dividend that ceased to persist post 1947. I urge the governments of India and Pakistan to open the traditional routes between the two countries," Abdullah said. (With inputs from agencies)