Farooq Abdullah expressed minimal hopes for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Jammu and Kashmir visit, emphasizing that while he doesn’t anticipate miracles, he does hope to prevent injustices like the recent civilian deaths in Poonch.
Abdullah mentioned, “I don’t expect much from this visit. Can he bring back the deceased? Is that within his power? However, I hope such injustices won’t happen again,” as he spoke to reporters in Kulgam, approximately 80 kilometers from Srinagar.
Addressing Singh’s visit in response to the civilian deaths, Abdullah noted that the minister’s purpose was to offer solace to the affected families. Three civilians were discovered dead after being taken into Army custody following a terrorist attack on two Army vehicles in Poonch, which resulted in the deaths of four soldiers.
Singh, accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army chief Manoj Pande, visited the ground zero in Rajouri on Wednesday to assess the security situation post the Army vehicles’ terror attack.
Regarding the Congress’ Bharat Nyay Yatra announcement, Abdullah praised Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to bridge divides and eliminate distrust between communities, expressing his intent to participate in this initiative. Responding to questions about his previous comparison of Kashmir to Gaza, Abdullah defended his stance by highlighting the risks faced due to unresolved conflicts and terrorism, emphasizing the need for diplomatic resolutions between India and Pakistan.
He reiterated the importance of talks between the neighboring countries to foster friendly relations, echoing former Prime Minister Vajpayee’s perspective on maintaining relationships with neighbors. Abdullah emphasized the current Prime Minister’s acknowledgment that contemporary issues cannot be resolved through war but through dialogue. Additionally, Abdullah commented on the Israel-Palestine conflict, attributing the ongoing strife in Gaza to historical tensions between foreign rulers and Muslims.
