NC welcomes Indo-Pak thaw, let there be open talks now: Omar Abdullah

Says leaders summoned by agencies facing it through questioning, Mehbooba not first leader quizzed  by agencies, Opposing Centre’s policies invites questioning by agencies, Ready to face this too

Srinagar, Mar 27: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Saturday said while welcoming the thaw between India and Pakistan stating that the two countries must move beyond secret talks and join the table for open talks to resolve all issues including Kashmir.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function at party office in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, Omar said that the NC has always welcomed peace overtures between India and Pakistan. “We have always been stating that war is no solution and all issues can be resolved through dialogue. I don’t want to go into how these two countries are coming closer to each other.

What I want to say is that India and Pakistani leadership must move beyond secret talks and join the table for an open dialogue,” Omar said adding that “dialogue is the only way to resolve issues including Kashmir. There are lot of issues between India and Pakistan.”

About the ED questioning of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Omar said that from Tamil Nadu to J&K, Mehbooba is not the only leader who was summoned. “Wherever leaders are being summoned, the leaders are facing it in the form of questioning etc. We have observed in the past eight years, opposing the Centre’s policies is being summoned by the agencies. We are ready to face this too,” he said.(KNO)