Omar hopes Indo-Pak dialogue would continue

Says Kashmir issue is long-pending problem and has political genesis which requires a political resolution

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed hope on Tuesday that the new government at the Centre would carry forward the dialogue process with Pakistan to address long-pending issues, including Kashmir.

"Hope the new government in New Delhi does not allow the dialogue process to die," Omar said addressing a seminar, Discussion between India and Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir - A Historical Perspective, organised by the Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir.

The seminar was attended by special envoy in the Prime Minister's Office S K Lambah, who delivered the keynote address.

Omar said the Kashmir issue is a long-pending problem and has political genesis which requires a political resolution.
 

There is a need for continuing the ongoing back channel dialogue between India and Pakistan to move forward on addressing the long-pending issue which has consumed generations.

"It is most important that the new government taking office in New Delhi carries forward the process of dialogue with Pakistan and takes ahead the progress made by ambassador Lambah in this regard," Omar said.

The chief minister said a solution which will satisfy the aspirations of the majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is the only way out.

"You cannot give any solution which will be acceptable to each and every citizen of the state. You have to work out a solution which will satisfy the aspirations of the majority of the people. Though such a solution is difficult to sell yet this is only way out," he said.

The chief minister said the dialogue process has two sides and the two parties with different positions have to come to a meeting point so that productive progress is achieved. "The longevity of dialogue without any logical conclusion takes the sheen out of it and people start disbelieving this process. This has made people apprehensive about the success of this process," Omar said calling for efforts to make dialogue process productive.

He said the transitions in the administration in Pakistan have impacted the forward movement in the back channel dialogue more than those in India.

"The forward movement which we had seen during the time of President Pervez Musharraf was not at the same pace in President Asif Ali Zardari's period. India looked forward towards the dialogue process with Pakistan both during the period of Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh," he said.

The function was also attended by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, several legislators, Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad, faculty, students and members of the civil society.