M Saleem Pandit,TNN
Aug 25, 2014
SRINAGAR: J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday controversially linked the shelling of border villages by Pakistan to the calling off of the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries by the Narendra Modi government.
A desperate Omar, perhaps trying to offset anti-incumbency in state elections later this year, appeared to bat for the separatists while telling reporters here soon after returning from a holiday in London, "I hope there is some rethink on this (calling off of talks with Pakistan)."
He added, "The cancellation of talks was a result of 'cup of tea' that has continued every year since 1994. It is part of Pakistan's, what they call, moral support. To expect that Pakistan would stop this before an overall settlement of the Kashmir issue, is I think to expect too much of Pakistan."
BJP reacted sharply to Omar's comment with senior leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi telling TOI in New Delhi, "Abdullah has been soft on the separatists despite their pro-Pakistan stand, and despite their being against the election process, which they refuse to join... With assembly polls coming up in the state, the CM is taking a soft stand on the separatists and (has) said the border firing is a result of India-Pakistan talks being called off."
Omar said he doesn't see talks with Pakistan resuming soon because of the Centre's unwillingness to engage with Islamabad as long as it accords primacy to meeting the separatists.
On ceasefire violations, Omar said, "The violations are increasing in intensity. They are no longer confined to BSF posts. By design now, civilian areas are being targeted and civilians are being killed and injured. People are being forced to migrate from border areas."
Women walk past a residential building with bullet marks allegedly fired from the Pakistan side at the India-Pakistan international border area of RS Pura on August 22, 2014. (AP photo)
Until Sunday, 150 instances of ceasefire violations were reported by Pakistani troops this year. A total of 195 violations were reported in 2013 but this year's breaches are learnt to be the highest in the last eight years till August, a government reports says.
Naqvi added, "Pakistan is walking with the separatists and talking with the government in India. This does not work with the Narendra Modi government. As for the firing at the border by the Pakistanis, it's in all probability because of Pakistan's domestic compulsion given its internal situation. The firing that has killed people in the border villages must stop, otherwise Pakistan will have to face the consequences."
A jawan keeps watch near NHPC's hydropower project LoC at Uri in Jammu & Kashmir
Omar is under increasing pressure feeling the ground slip beneath his feet in an election year. Blaming the Centre for not allowing Pakistan to set the agenda for India-Pakistan talks will help him, according to his calculation, said NC sources.
In the past, Omar has blamed the erstwhile UPA government for decisions like hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and continuing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act for his troubles with Kashmiri protesters. The Congress, which was part of his government, broke off accusing him of mis-governance and mismanagement of the state.
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