J-K stuck between India, Pakistan; stop shelling, have pity on people: Mehbooba Mufti
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti sought an end to hostilities between the two countries on the borders, saying it is the people of the state who suffer the brunt of these skirmishes.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday appealed governments of India and Pakistan to stop shelling on border and let people live in peace.
Addressing a public meeting in north Kashmir’s border area of Tangdar, Mehbooba sought an end to hostilities between the two countries on the borders, saying it is the people of the state who suffer the brunt of these skirmishes.
“Our state of Jammu and Kashmir has become stuck in between these two countries — India and Pakistan. When there is war between these two, we suffer the most. It is very unfortunate that when people should have been demanding facilities of schools, hospitals, play fields and hospitals, they are forced to seek construction of bunkers to save them from shells,” she said.
Mehbooba recalled the statement of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying “we can change friends not neighbours”.
“This is a border area and my appeal from here to my country and to Pakistan is to please stop this shelling, for God’s sake. Please forgive us. Today thousands of people in Rajouri have become homeless. Kids are not going to school. They are living in tents. Here also people are frightened that there will be shelling. Please have pity on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Stop this war so that we could spend our money on our schools, hospitals and roads,” she said.
The chief minister said that government’s intention was to open more and more roads and stop this shelling.
“We want friendships. Because people are suffering on the other side also and we also suffer here whenever there is shelling. That is why there is no option for us or them except friendship. What has been the outcome of the antagonism which has been between us for the past 70 years? In fact our state is becoming the target of this rivalry,” she said.
Mehbooba stated that their government is trying for friendship between the two countries.
“Prime Minister tried. He went to Pakistan like a neighbour goes to another neighbour. But unfortunately after that the situation became worse, there were attacks like Pathankot and Uri and things worsened,” she said.
She said that she was hoping for friendship between the two countries. “My country is a big country and I hope it will prove its vastness and will again try to improve relations (with Pakistan) so that people on our border remain happy and safe,” she said.
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