SRINAGAR: Nationwide Convention (NC) president Farooq Abdullah has squarely blamed Pakistan for the uptick in terrorist exercise in J&Ok, saying there could be no talks between New Delhi and Islamabad until the neighbouring nation stops the killings.
His remarks stand in distinction with current election manifestos of each NC and PDP, which advocated talks with Pakistan to handle the “unsettled Kashmir concern”.
“How can there be talks? You kill our harmless individuals and then you definitely name for talks. First cease the killings,” Abdullah stated following the deaths of a health care provider and 6 different staff at a tunnel-construction firm’s campsite on the Srinagar-Leh freeway in Ganderbal district Sunday night.
The victims included Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar from Budgam district in Kashmir, architectural engineer Shashi Bhushan Abrol from Jammu, three staff from Bihar — Faheem Nasir, Mohammad Hanif, and Abdul Kaleem — together with Anil Shukla from Madhya Pradesh, and Gurmeet Singh from Punjab.
The NC chief criticised Pakistan’s long-standing interference and proxy conflict. “Pakistan has been sending killers since 1947. Did that create Pakistan right here? If it hasn’t occurred in 75 years, how will it occur now? For god’s sake, focus by yourself nation’s progress and go away us alone.”
“These monsters killed labourers and a health care provider. These individuals got here right here to work and make ends meet beneath robust situations. What was their fault?” he stated Tuesday amid experiences of migrant staff leaving Kashmir out of worry.
For her half, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti urged CM Omar Abdullah and lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and make sure the security of non-Kashmiri staff.
“After the barbaric assault at Sonamarg there are experiences that the native admin is pressurising non native labourers to depart the valley instantly. Whereas I perceive their apparent sense of panic however asking them to depart on this method shouldn’t be an answer,” she wrote on X.
Forcing them to depart will solely ship a detrimental message after “peaceable, terror-free elections”, she stated, cautioning that such actions may result in backlash towards Kashmiris working and learning in different states.
J&Ok police refuted social media experiences alleging that the Union territory’s administration had requested migrant staff to depart Kashmir valley. “Police are dedicated to making sure safety for all to pursue their livelihoods with out worry or intimidation. Individuals are suggested to not consider unverified and pretend experiences on social media,” an officer stated.
Nevertheless, many panic-stricken migrant staff and their households had left Kashmir and a few had been seen Tuesday on the railway station in Jammu.
“Labourers from different components of the nation are apprehensive and are considering of leaving,” stated Gulzar Ahmad, an orchard proprietor in Pulwama. “Locals are attempting to allay their fears, ease their considerations.” Migrant staff type the spine of Kashmir’s orchard financial system — selecting, packing, and hauling through the apple harvest season.
