Srinagar, May 3 (UNI) National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asserted that Kashmir has always been and will continue to remain an integral part of India.
His remarks came in the wake of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam that has shaken the region and further escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. The five time Chief Minister also interacted with tourists at Pahalgam.
Speaking to reporters in Pahalgam, Abdullah said 'the strongest message to come out of the incident is that the people are not afraid'.
“They (terrorists) came to the place and tried to create fear and they have lost,” he said.
The NC President alleged that the attackers’ aim was to stoke communal divisions.
“They thought they could separate Hindus and Muslims. They lost. They thought they could get Kashmir. They lost,” the former CM said. “It has been established today that this (Kashmir) is, was and will always be a part of India.”
Abdullah warned that attacks like the one in Pahalgam only serve to inflame tensions and obstruct development.
“People want to see an end of terrorism. … It has been 35 years since we have seen this terrorism. We want to move forward. We want to progress. They (Pakistan) stop our progress,” he said, adding, “We don’t want to become beggars like their country. We want to move ahead and we will.”
When asked about the rising hostilities between India and Pakistan, the NC President emphasized the urgency of eliminating terrorism.
“We are tired of terrorism. It is necessary to end it. We accept any action taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and we are waiting for it,” he added.
Earlier in the day, after visiting the family of Syed Adil — who lost his life protecting tourists during the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — Abdullah also raised concerns over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), saying it has long deprived the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their rightful access to water and electricity.
“We have been saying for a long time that this treaty must be revisited. We are the ones deprived,” Abdullah said, highlighting severe water shortages in regions like Jammu.
The former CM noted that attempts to bring water to Jammu in the past have been blocked under the terms of the treaty, which is overseen by the World Bank.
“Today, we have an opportunity to assert our right to that water,” he said.
UNI MJR CS