National Conference has said that it was a matter of misfortune for prospects of peace between India and Pakistan and also particularly for the people of Jammu & Kashmir that the Foreign Secretary level talks scheduled between New Delhi and Islamabad had to be called off. Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah has said “National Conference has been a strong votary and advocate of sustained engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve all outstanding issues between the two neighbors and has also consistently advocated the political resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. We have always supported and will continue to advocate and support a sustained and meaningful internal engagement with stakeholders and also support all endeavors that aim to bring the Governments and peoples of India and Pakistan towards frontiers of greater reconciliation and mutual cooperation”.
According to a statement issued to KNS, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that meetings between Huriyat leaders and Pakistan’s diplomatic delegations have taken place at regular intervals in the past, including the last decade and specifically also in the run-up to past parleys between New Delhi and Islamabad. “The meetings between the Pakistani High Commissioner and Hurriyat leaders should not have become an issue resulting in the cancellation of the high-level talks. These meetings have happened in the past as well. Engaging in talks and allowing a multi-spectrum engagement to resolve political issues exhibits strength and confidence, not weakness”, Dr. Farooq said.
National Conference Party President said that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s gesture of inviting the Prime Minister of Pakistan along with premiers of SAARC member-States to his swearing-in ceremony was a significant indication of movement towards diplomatic engagement and greater cooperation in the region. “We hope that the same spirit of cooperation is institutionalized by all member-States in their relationships with each other, more particularly the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Islamabad”.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah said the people of Jammu & Kashmir were both the biggest sufferers of animosity and hostility between India and Pakistan and also conversely the biggest beneficiaries of sustained peace and cooperation between India and Pakistan. “National Conference hopes and appeals that the dialogue process is resumed at the earliest possible instance and that this is done in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding between New Delhi and Islamabad. Both countries have a lot to gain from long-term and permanent peace and National Conference will continue to seek a betterment of ties”, Dr. Farooq said. (KNS)