War is no solution, says Omar

Welcoming the secretary level talks between the two countries, Omar said, "War is not a solution to any issue, I don't think there is any other alternative except dialogue".

Omar, who was here to attend the passing out parade of 66 Deputy Superintendents from Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy, pointed out that Pakistan wants to discuss only Siachen because "it is their compulsion".

"Why don't they want to discuss the other issues also, why only Siachen. Why don't they talk on Sir Creek. There should be a comprehensive dialogue", Omar said responding to a question about removal of troops from the Siachen.

Meanwhile, the CM stood his decision to start the Amarnath Yatra from June 25. However, he said, the weather conditions in the region were causing a hurdle in the clearance of the track to the cave shrine.

"We are trying our level best to start the Amarnath yatra on the scheduled date from June 25. Efforts are going on to clear the road for devotees. We have pressed our men and machinery into action to clear the track, but the weather there is not favourable, as every day there are rains and snow fall in some of the upper reaches", he said.

Asked, why the people of Jammu region were left to suffer because of the long hours of power curtailment, Omar said, "We only get 30 per cent of the revenue from the masses. There is a huge deficit of revenue. So it is quite difficult to maintain a 24 hour supply of electricity".

"During winters the problem remains in Kashmir and during summers people of Jammu suffer", he added.