Welcoming US President Barack Obama’s comments on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that time had come for Pakistan and separatists in the state to “look inwards” for a solution rather than expect the US to “do their job for them.”
Mr Omar, who was the only chief minister invited to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s private dinner Sunday night in honour of Mr Obama, said the President’s statement that the US cannot impose a solution was a “telling indicator” that for resolving the vexed issue of Kashmir, India and Pakistan will have to find a solution that is acceptable to the majority of people of J&K.
“Perhaps the time has come for both Pakistan and separatists to look inwards for a solution rather than expect the US to do their jobs for them,” Mr Omar said when asked for his comments on Mr Obama’s remarks after summit talks with PM Manmohan Singh.
Meanwhile, separatists put their own spin on Obama’s comments by saying that the US President’s statement was an admission that Kashmir is a longstanding dispute. Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said “though Obama has said India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue, he has not ruled out role of US categorically. Mr Geelani, who has been denied visa to the US for his support to violence, claimed that it was victory for them as Mr Obama’s reference to Kashmir has given international endorsement to the territory as being disputed.