Farooq calls for bilateral pact

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, FEB. 28. The time had come to resolve the outstanding issues with Pakistan, so that the entire region, in general, and Kashmir, in particular, remained peaceful and prospered. War with the neighbour was no solution and only a bilateral agreement could ensure lasting peace, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has said.

In his reply to the debate on the Governor's address in the Legislative Council on Monday, Dr. Abdullah said the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) was grim. ``I hope that good sense prevails upon Pakistan and it accepts the hand of friendship extended by India.'' He ruled out the possibility of the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying whatever the two countries had should be treated as the last solution. Urging the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, to impress upon Pakistan to take the path of peace and friendship, he said, ``We should settle the issues with our neighbour through negotiations.'' Today's statement shows Dr. Abdullah in a totally different light, as he has always advocated a hard posture towards Pakistan and even said that war was the only solution.

Referring to the firing across the border and Sunday's incident in which eight Indian soldiers were killed, he said, ``The situation is very grim and it can take any turn.''

Criticising the NDA Government at the Centre for not providing enough financial support to the State, he said during the Gowda and Gujral regimes ``we got enough support but the present Government is very indifferent''.

Pointing towards the lone BJP member in the council, he said, ``Tell your people at the Centre that if they do not help the State to come out of the crisis, things will take a disastrous turn.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Regional
Previous : BJP may part ways with HVC in Himachal
Next     : Mega projects hanging fire in Karnataka