'Such Incidents Will Continue': Says Farooq Abdullah As He Presses For Dialogue With Pakistan, After Security Officers Killed In Gun Battle With Terrorists

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah emphasised the need for India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue in order to bring an end to the bloodshed and achieve lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Humayun Bhat, a deputy superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir police and two other security officers were martyred following a deadly gun-battle with terrorists in Anantnag on Wednesday (13 September).

After visiting family of Bhat, Abdullah told the reporters, "Such incidents will continue if there is no dialogue. We are fools if we think that it (violence) will stop. We will keep losing lives... There is no way but dialogue. Both countries should give up their stubbornness and hold talks."

Alongside Bhat, Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchak, two other security officers, were also killed in the encounter in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district.

Abdullah also expressed his opinion on the remarks made by some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders regarding the retrieval of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In response to the possibility of taking back PoK, Abdullah stated that the BJP should go ahead if they feels it will solve the problem.

Abdullah criticised the BJP-led Centre for claiming that terrorism has been eradicated in Jammu and Kashmir. He disagreed with this statement, emphasising that the recent loss of lives shows that the destruction caused by terrorism continues.

Abdullah reiterated his stance on the resumption of dialogue by drawing a parallel with the conflict in Ukraine.

When asked about advocating talks with Pakistan, the NC president clarified that the discussions should take place between the two countries involved in the conflict.

Abdullah also addressed the question of Pakistan causing trouble in Jammu and Kashmir by highlighting that the neighbouring country has never accepted the status quo.

He added, "How does it matter? Pakistan has been saying that they do not accept it. They throw the UN resolutions at you. What will you tell them? They are saying we do not accept this decision."

The former chief minister expressed his inability to shed light on the origin of these terrorists. However, he noted that recent incidents suggest that they are highly trained and may not be from Pakistan.

He said, "I am neither in the intelligence nor in the government, so I cannot say where they come from. But they are coming and they are coming fully trained. I fear that these foreign terrorists might be from another country, they are so well trained."

When asked about the involvement of Afghans, Abdullah chose not to accuse anyone directly, avoiding pointing fingers at any specific group or nationality.

He further said, "Those who need to understand will understand. There is a danger, an imminent danger. We have to face this every day. Our people are dying, our jawans are dying."