Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday sought an end to the conflict between India and Pakistan on the lines of the thaw between the Koreas after 70 years of rivalry.
Addressing a rally in Srinagar, Mehbooba cited former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to say that “we can change our friends but not neighbours”.
“Like (my colleague) Mehboob Beigh sahib here said, North Korea and South Korea have become friends after 70 years for the sake of people. But here shelling is still going on on our borders. People on that side are dying and people on this side are also dying. Our agenda is only this that till these two countries don’t come close situation won’t improve,” she said.
Mehbooba said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir tells on the relationship between India and Pakistan. “That is why we want talks here and with them,” she said.
On the sidelines of the function, she later termed the bloodshed on the borders as “unfortunate despite talks” between director generals of military operations (DGMO) of the two countries.
“This is unfortunate that despite DGMO talks, there has been ceasefire violation on border in which we lost our two jawans and many other civilians are injured. This should not happen. People on both sides are dying. DGMOs should meet again and talk. And the shelling and bloodshed on borders should be stopped,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}“This is unfortunate that despite DGMO talks, there has been ceasefire violation on border in which we lost our two jawans and many other civilians are injured. This should not happen. People on both sides are dying. DGMOs should meet again and talk. And the shelling and bloodshed on borders should be stopped,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}On May 29, Pakistani director general of military operations called his Indian counterpart lieutenant general Anil Chauhan over hotline with a proposal to undertake “sincere measures” to improve the border situation and spare civilians hardships. The Indian DGMO had agreed to the proposal.
However, officials said two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed after Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing along the International Border in Jammu early on Sunday, triggering heavy gunfight between the two sides in Pargwal sector of Akhnoor.