Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reaffirmed his stance on the critical importance of India-Pakistan dialogue, emphasizing that peaceful engagement to resolve bilateral disputes should not be met with resistance.
His comments were made in response to a recent letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that advocated for the restart of Indo-Pak talks. Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous adage, Abdullah told reporters, “There should be no opposition to dialogue. Vajpayee ji was absolutely right when he said that we can change our friends, but we cannot change our neighbors.”
The Chief Minister also addressed the disproportionate reaction such proposals often receive, pointing out that the call for talks should not become contentious merely because it comes from leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. “If the RSS were to make such a call, nobody would object. But whenever leaders from Jammu and Kashmir speak about India–Pakistan dialogue, it creates a huge controversy,” he observed.
Abdullah underscored that dialogue is still the only feasible mechanism to tackle long-standing issues and secure sustainable peace in the subcontinent.
His remarks follow a recent appeal by multiple civil society members, who have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to resume meaningful negotiations, restore diplomatic and cultural exchanges, and resolve all outstanding points of contention through constructive conversation.
