| Talking to Pak only will not help, Omar to Hurriyat | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today hoped that the moderate Hurriyat Conference leadership, which is on a visit to Pakistan, will enter into an "unconditional" dialogue with New Delhi, saying holding talks with Pakistan only will not benefit anybody.
"It will not benefit anybody if you hold dialogue with Pakistan and not with New Delhi. Therefore, I believe that when the leaders will return from Islamabad, they will keep in mind that no hurdles were created in their Pakistan visit and come forward for talks with India and put their viewpoint," Omar said.
"I am happy that Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, is in Pakistan for talks and hope that they will hold unconditional dialogue with New Delhi as well after their return," Omar said after inaugurating renovated Zainakadal bridge in downtown Srinagar. The chief minister, who also laid the foundation of a new bridge over Jhelum river in the area, said if they (Hurriyat) wish to address the issue in accordance with their wishes, they need to hold dialogue with both - New Delhi and Islamabad. "Something can be achieved (through the dialogue) for the people of the state as talks are the only solution to the issue of Kashmir," Omar said making an appeal to hardliners also to reconsider their approach and agenda.
"I want to tell those leaders who decided not to go (to Pakistan) to reconsider their agenda. When you accept that the issue will not be solved without dialogue, then you have to join the process and talk to both the sides," the chief minister said while referring to Syed Ali Shah Geelani led Hurriyat faction which rejected the Pakistan invitation.
"'Inshallah' (God willing), I am hopeful that they will come forward and join the talks to achieve something for the people and not for themselves," he said, adding that "we want to convert the sadness of people into happiness by providing them a conducive atmosphere so that everybody progresses and helps in building a 'naya' (new) and 'khushaal' (prosperous) Jammu and Kashmir."
Farooq went to Pakistan on December 15 with a seven-member delegation. |
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