Omar Abdullah bats for dialogue between India and Pakistan

Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 6 (ANI): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed hope on Monday that both the governments of India and Pakistan will create such an environment to start the process of dialogue.

He also said there is still a long way to go to control militancy in the Union Territory.

“The BJP should answer the terror attack on an IAF convoy in Poonch. I have been saying that militancy has enveloped a few areas that were becoming militancy-free as long as I was the Chief Minister. Like Srinagar and areas adjacent to it and Rajouri-Poonch,” Omar said while addressing a public gathering in Kupwara’s Langate.

“But you see (media) how many targeted killings took place in Srinagar, how many encounters took place in Poonch, how many terror attacks took place in Rajouri, what kind of terror attacks took place in Kokernag. The reality is it will take a lot of time to control militancy,” said Omar, the National Conference, Vice-President

He was replying to a query related to the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir post-2019.

Omar Abdullah who is contesting from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat will vote in the fifth phase on May 20.

Replying to a query, he said, “National Conference has always maintained that all the matters (between India and Pakistan) would be resolved through dialogue. What Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji said: ‘We can change our friends, but we can’t change our neighbours’. Pakistan is, was and will remain our neighbour. We have to create an environment for the dialogue. And it is the responsibility of the two countries”.

“A new government has come to power in Pakistan after elections. Here results will be out on June 4. A new government will be formed. We hope that both the governments of India and Pakistan will create such an environment to start the process of dialogue,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir has a total of 5 Lok Sabha seats including Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag-Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu.

Meanwhile, an Indian Air Force officer was killed and four others injured in the terror attack in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

The voting in Jammu and Kashmir is being held in five phases and the polling in Anantnag-Rajouri is scheduled to be held on May 25 in the sixth phase. (ANI)

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases running from April 19 to June 1.

The counting of votes and results will be declared on June 4.