Omar Abdullah welcomes India-Pakistan understanding amid border tensions

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the understanding between India and Pakistan saying it was better late than never.

"I welcome from the depths of my heart the announcement made by Government of India spokesperson about restoration of understanding between India and Pakistan," Abdullah told reporters at his residence.

"Better late than never but had this understanding come two or three days earlier, perhaps the bloodshed we saw and the precious lives we lost, would have been safe," he added.

Abdullah said the DGMO of Pakistan called his Indian counterpart and they agreed to establish understanding again in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.

"It is now the duty of J-K government to provide relief and compensation to those who have suffered during this period. We have announced compensation for the loss of precious lives. Now we will have to compensate those who have been injured as well," he added.

The chief minister said there has been lot of devastation caused by cross border shelling and attacks in Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Tangdhar and other border areas.

"Now we also hope that we can resume the Hajj flights as we were not able to send the pilgrims to Hajj due to closure of airport," he said.