People with vested interests in India, Pak don't want peace in Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

There are some people with vested interests in India and Pakistan who do not want peace in Kashmir for their own survival, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has said.

Inviting business leaders to the state for investments, Abdullah said "you will find more love from people in Kashmir than you think".

"Some politicians in Pakistan or in India do not want to resolve the Kashmir issue, they want the instability and hatred to continue in the valley so that they could survive," he said on Thursday night at a business event organised by the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO).

There is the vested interest that wants to crack everything, Abdullah, the Member of Parliament from Srinagar, said.

"The vested interest is everywhere, be it some of the politicians, leaders or military establishment. Many are making money and unless we throw them out, the Kashmir issue would not be resolved," the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said.

He said the two countries have to move forward if they want peace and prosperity in the region.

Asked about the status of Kashmiri pandits and what he would like to do for their return to the valley, he said whoever wants to return, will surely return and there was a need to create a space inside the muslim community with whom they have lived harmoniously and peacefully.

He said many of the young pandits may not want to return to the valley as they have never been there and have established themselves elsewhere.

"It's the older pandits who want to go back to the valley. Many of them have already sold their properties at throwback prices fearing that the valley will become Pakistan which was not true. So there is a need to create an area inside the Muslim community and not outside as they have lived together harmoniously and peacefully," Abdullah said, adding that at the time of partition, the people of Kashmir chose to stay with India.

Urging businesses to visit Kashmir and invest there, he said, "We are a muslim majority state but that doesn't mean we are not Indians. We believe India belongs to all of us. You will find more love from people over there."