Days ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s much talked-about meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that he does not see any immediate headwork in the Indo-Pak or Centre-separatists dialogues for the fact that Parliament elections are in the offing.
He, however, underscored the need for a “positive and flexible” approach by India and Pakistan as well as the separatists towards “coming on the same page to get the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir resolved politically.”
Mr Omar Abdullah said he has time and again made it clear that while economic development and peace can create conducive atmosphere for dialogue process, these cannot solve the basic political issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir. “You can neither buy a solution to a political problem nor shoot it out. You have to address it politically and only politically,” he said and thanked the Centre for extra-ordinary economic support given to the state for growth, progress and prosperity.
The chief minister also sought to highlight the significance of his repeatedly advocating doctrine of dealing political issues in a political framework. Referring to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir recognised by the Constitution of India, he reiterated the accession of the state to the Union of India was on four matters of currency, communication, foreign affairs and defence. “While all other states acceded to Union of India and then merged with it, Jammu and Kashmir only acceded and not merged. That is why we have special status, our own constitution and the state flag,” he said adding that the political issues of Kashmir are not born with the militancy in 1990 but their genesis is long back associated with the partition of the country.