Anantnag: National Conference President and Member of Parliament for Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that sustained Indo-Pak friendship was imperative for peace in the sub-continent and would also go a far way in the resolution of the political issue in Kashmir.
A spokesman of NC in a statement said that addressing various gatherings in Qazigund and Bijbehara on Saturday, Dr. Farooq Abdullah welcomed the message of reconciliation and engagement from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and said the Central Government should reciprocate positively and without wasting any time.
Accompanied by Party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal and Vice Provincial President Mushtaq Ahmed Guroo, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said the people of Kashmir were the biggest victims of hostility and animosity between India and Pakistan. “The people of Kashmir have suffered far too long and far too much due to hostility between the two neighbours. The time now has come to tread a new path of mutual cooperation, peace and friendship so that both countries could reap the dividends of peace and progress. The common challenges of poverty, lack of education, inadequate healthcare and violence need to be tackled in an atmosphere of trust and friendship”, the spokesman quoted Abdullah as saying.
“We hope that the new Government in Pakistan takes concrete steps to peacefully address all outstanding issues with the Central Government including that of Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan owe the people of Kashmir a sense of responsibility to find a solution to this impasse and we hope and pray that the future holds the key for an end to our sufferings”, the spokesman quoted him saying.
The spokesman said that prior to the public engagements in South Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Abdullah visited the residence of renowned social and political personality Late Bashir Ahmed Shah at Qazigund to express solidarity with his family on his demise. Dr. Farooq Abdullah also visited the residence of Late Abdul Hamid Shah at Bijbehara to express solidarity with his family on his demise.
