Following Indian Army’s “surgical strike” along the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday, tension prevailed amngst the political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, as they oiced their opinion against the war saying war is not an option for either country.
“New Delhi and Islamabad must open channels of communication and realise the dangerous consequences of any escalation of the ongoing confrontation along the border,” Chief Minister of the valley Mehbooba Mufti said. “War is never an option to resolve issues. The future of the troubled region has to be defined by common economic interests instead of hostilities — confrontation could lead to a disaster of epic proportions if urgent steps are not taken. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have the greatest stake in peace as they have undergone enormous tragedy because of the blood-spattered violence in the state… There is no alternative to talks.”
Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah expressed his concern for the civilians living along the LoC, saying they are the people to get affected the most if any war takes place and so he expects both the countries to keep their cool and continue with the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
Abdullah, the president of main opposition National Conference, also said, “Confrontation and hostility between New Delhi and Islamabad have not yielded favourable results for either country in the past. All outstanding issues and concerns should be discussed with sincerity and (with) the common goal of achieving peace, stability and cooperation in the region.”
State Congress President G. A. Mir told The Indian Express that, “No wise country can go for war. War doesn’t suit (either) India or Pakistan… India shouldn’t prefer direct war as a first option — there are so many other (diplomatic) options.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Dr. Nirmal Singh praised PM Narendra Modi and the Indian Army for the surgical strikes, saying that these will not only send a strong message to Pakistan, but also to the separatists.
Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy: www.governancenow.com
