The Hindu : U.S. pushing India, Pak. to dialogue: Omar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2003

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U.S. pushing India, Pak. to dialogue: Omar

By Our Staff Reporter

JAMMU MAY 1. The National Conference president and former Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah, said here today that the U.S. was playing a key role behind the scenes to start a fresh dialogue process in the subcontinent.

"The U.S. pressure is clearly on both India and Pakistan to improve their relations.

The statements which are emanating from U.S. think-tanks and establishment clearly point to the direction that after Iraq and Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir will be an issue where they want to interfere and help in settling the dispute," he told reporters.

As he had himself been in the South Block for three years and he knew the way things move there and how the global pressures worked and decided the country's foreign policy, he said.

"I cannot say it is a positive sign but one thing is clear on which I would comment upon. If the `kicking' helps the countries get somewhat closer and discuss their points of differences and reduce tensions between the two countries I do not mind it."

Strongly opposing the criticism that the National Conference is coming back to the agenda of its plebiscite days, Mr. Abdullah said, "Our actions and reactions to the events in the State should not be construed as `a challenge' to the State's Accession to India and our relations with it.

``We take pride in our past, which is based on secularism and socialism and we would not move an inch from it no matter what happens. Autonomy to the State remains one of the main political agendas of the party."

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