“If we remain friendly with our neighbours, both will progress,” the National Conference leader said.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has said India could meet the same fate as Gaza, which is being relentlessly bombed by Israeli forces, if it doesn’t find a solution through dialogue with Pakistan.
He said India should maintain friendly ties with its neighbours. “If we remain friendly with our neighbours, both will progress,” media reports quoted the Lok Sabha member as saying.
Abdullah’s statement has the potential of ruffling several feathers in the power echelons at the Center and in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Atal Bihari Vajpayee (former prime minister and BJP leader) had said we can change our friends but not our neighbours. If we remain friendly with our neighbours, both will progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said war is not an option now and the matters should be resolved through dialogue,” news agency ANI quoted Abdullah as saying.
“Where is the dialogue? Nawaz Sharif is about to become the PM (of Pakistan) and they are saying that we are ready to talk (with India), but what is the reason why we are not ready to talk? If we do not find a solution through dialogue, we will meet the same fate as Gaza and Palestine, which are being bombed by Israel…,” Abdullah added.