Saturday 18th Jul, 2026
Result oriented dialogue only way forward to resolve Kashmir issue, Dr Abdullah
Srinagar, Feb 8: (UNI) Expressing hope that new government in New Delhi after Parliamentary polls will open new parleys with Pakistan, National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday said only time bound and result oriented dialogue offers the way forward to the protracted issue of Jammu & Kashmir.
Former Chief minister Dr Abdullah while welcoming new entrants into the party hee said, “I am sure that the new government at the centre will open talks with Pakistan. There is no substitute to dialogue. Dialogue is imperative to end the looming uncertainty in Jammu & Kashmir.”
On the occasion party Dr Abdullah welcomed PDP district president Baramulla, Bandipore Irshad Rasool Kar and a prominent Peoples Conference (PC) functionary Abdul Rahim Lone into NC.
“The need of the hour is to make party stronger at grass roots in order to put up strong front against those forces who are inimical to the state’s special position. I am convinced that the new entrants into our party fold will employ their political acumen to make party stronger at the grass roots,” Dr Abdullah said.
Maintaining that the cobbling of coalitions has always proven detrimental to the interests of people, he said, “In order to meet the demands and protect the interests of the state and its people, only a majoritarian government can provide the necessary impetus. Therefore a stable and strong dispensation is of paramount importance to steer J&K out of the mess created in the past four years.”
Expressing concern on steep increase in the airfare of airlines operating Kashmir route, he said, “It is reflective of the attitude of the central government. Given the fact the landing charges and the fuel charges are stable; I see no reason behind the steep increase in air fare,” adding, “I have time and again taken up the issue with the central government and will do it again. I have also impressed upon Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Mr Nitin Gadkari about the need to upgrade the road connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar,” he said.
Dr Abdullah also impressed upon the need to have effective and well coordinated response to natural disasters including incessant rains and snowfall. “I had mulled to replace the over ground electric cables in order to ensure that people get adequate power supply during untoward weather conditions, however the idea could not be materialized. However I am sure that the new government will undertake the process to make power lines less susceptible to outages during high wind thunderstorms or heavy snow or incessant rains.”