SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said India and Pakistan should engage in dialogue to resolve their differences and improve bilateral relations, asserting that there should be no objection to advocating peace between the two neighbouring countries.
Speaking to reporters in Shopian, Omar said tensions between India and Pakistan were not new and had persisted for decades, adding that they escalated further following last year’s Pahalgam incident.
Referring to a recent letter reportedly addressed to the Prime Minister urging improved ties between the two countries, the Chief Minister said there should be no objection to such an appeal.
He questioned why similar remarks by leaders from Jammu and Kashmir often attract criticism, while statements favouring dialogue made by senior RSS leaders do not.
Citing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Omar said, “Friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot.”
He said the objective should be to foster better relations between the neighbouring countries through dialogue and peaceful engagement. (KNO)
