Middle path needed to resolve Kashmir crisis: Farooq Abdullah

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah asserted that Kashmir would never become a part of Pakistan, but said New Delhi would have to work out a middle path to resolve the political dispute.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah asserted on Tuesday that Kashmir would never become a part of Pakistan, but said New Delhi would have to work out a middle path to resolve the political dispute.

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Addressing a two-day All India Editors Conference on social and infrastructural issues in Srinagar, the ruling National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah said: "Kashmir would never become a part of Pakistan but peace in South Asia would only be assured after the political dispute over Kashmir is resolved and, for this, New Delhi must work out a middle path."

Abdullah regretted that the recommendations of the working groups on Kashmir had been gathering dust.

"Those recommendations need to be implemented," he said.

State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also addressed the conference, said the social and infrastructural issues could only be addressed if political security was guaranteed.

"The centre should engage Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir in a dialogue process to resolve the political dispute," Omar said.

The chief minister regretted that the media had given unnecessary hype to the so-called presence of Taliban guerrillas in the state which had adversely affected the state's economy.