Union minister Farooq Abdullah today expressed hope that the leadership of India and Pakistan will soon take necessary initiatives to address all outstanding issues between the two nations, including Kashmir.
"I am hopeful that the leadership of India and Pakistan will join hands for initiating necessary measures to address all outstanding issues between them, including Kashmir," Abdullah said in his congratulatory message to the people of both the countries on their Independence Days.
The National Conference president said friendship between India and Pakistan is the only guarantee for an everlasting peace in the South Asian region, especially Jammu and Kashmir.
"The people of both the countries are against violence and support non-violence. Nothing can be achieved by war, which only brings death and destruction," Abdullah said.
He said India and Pakistan have identical history and people of the two nations celebrate their independence with similar tradition and fervour.
"This could prove a milestone in creating friendly relations, and enhance people to people contact between the two countries," he said.
