Jammu, Apr 14 : Asserting that there is no alternative to a sustained dialogue, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that if cricket diplomacy helps in giving a forward push to talks between India and Pakistan, he is in favour of it.
“Dialogue has no alternative to settle issues. If cricket diplomacy helps in giving forward push to talks between India and Pakistan, I am in favour of it,” Omar told reporters in reply to a question about Indo-Pak dialogue and cricket diplomacy on the sidelines of a function here tonight.The Chief Minister said that violence will never resolve any issue.
“Unless somebody shows me any credible alternative to the dialogue these talks will always matter. Too much time has been spent in violence and in not talking to each other,” he said and emphasised the need for a sustained dialogue.
“Any matter between India and Pakistan—whether it is Jammu and Kashmir, Saichin, Sir-creak or trade, violence will not solve these issues. It is the sustained dialogue which will solve them and if cricket diplomacy or any other diplomacy helps the process then I am all for it,” he said.
In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said that our endeavour is to expand the orbit of the internal dialogue process and those who are ready for talks would be provided full security.
The Chief Minister said that JK Police is investigating in the assassination of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah and said “it is an ongoing investigation and it will not be appropriate for me at this time to divulge the details. Police is examining all leads and we hope to be able to track down the killers.”He said that the Panchayat Election is a local self governance election.
“Please understand it is not referendum on the Kashmir issue. It is not election for State Government or Centre Governments, it is a non-party Panchayat Election,” he said.PTI
