Farooq Abdullah says autonomy without changing border is the only solution
Srinagar, Nov. 11 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir's former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that autonomy for both parts of divided Kashmir without changing borders is the only possible solution to the Kashmir problem.
"Ours is a landlocked state between three nuclear countries including India, Pakistan and China. I, therefore, believe Azadi is not possible nor workable. The part of the state under Pakistan belongs to them as our part belongs to India," Abdullah, who is also the National Conference President, told media here.
"Both India and Pakistan must sit together with the people of both parts of Kashmir and work out internal autonomy for both parts within the existing borders."
Asked to comment on Centre's special representative, Dineshwar Sharma's statement that his recent five-day long visit was successful and that he would do his best to talk to Kashmiri separatist leadership as well, Abdullah said: "What Dineshwar Sharma said is not for me to comment on."
"But, I believe no talks between Delhi and Srinagar would bear the desired result because it is an issue between India and Pakistan. These two countries need to sit together and decide the issue taking people of both parts of Jammu and Kashmir into confidence," he said.
Hope interlocutor's talks will provide breakthrough – Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that Kashmir interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma after holding talks with all stakeholders would come out with recommendations on further improving the situation in the state, and hoped the efforts would provide some breakthrough.
He also described radicalisation as a "global phenomena", and said India has been least affected by it because of the Muslim community's faith in true Islam.
He accused Pakistan of destabilising India.
"Our neighbouring country is not desisting from its mischievous acts. It has been trying to disrupt us," he said, speaking at an event.
Claiming that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved a lot since the new regime took over in Delhi, Singh said: "The number of incidents have now lowered from 6000 in 1995 to 300 today. There has been improvement in the situation.
"Recently we have appointed Dineshwar Sharma as our Special Representative to Jammu and Kashmir. He will talk to all the stake holders and come out with recommendations that what steps the central government should take further to improve the situation," he said hoping that the efforts would be fruitful with some "breakthrough".
Rajnath Singh's remarks came a day after the Union Home Ministry formed two new divisions to exclusively deal with emerging security challenges such as radicalisation and cyber crime.
Sharma on Friday concluded a five-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and said he would return soon to continue his mission to hold a sustained dialogue process that includes different viewpoints in the state.
On radicalisation and the Islamic State, the Minister said: "There is a general perception that radicalisation is happening. It has become a global phenomenon. As far as India is concerned, it has the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia. Despite that, it has been least affected."
The BJP leader, however, gave credit to Indian Muslims for rejecting the Islamic State and its ideology.
"I would like to give credit to followers of Islam in the country," he said.
