BJP Slams Farooq Abdullah Over Pakistan Remarks
Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Srinagar: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Malik Mushtaq Noorabadi on Monday launched a sharp attack on National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah over his recent remarks on Pakistan, questioning how a country accused of sponsoring cross-border terrorism for decades could be described as a friend of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Noorabadi said the former Chief Minister owed the public a clear answer. “Farooq Abdullah must answer a simple question: how can Pakistan, which has inflicted immense suffering through terrorism and violence, be considered a friend? The world knows that Pakistan is an enemy of peace, an enemy of people of Jammu and Kashmir and an enemy of humanity. Its record of violence and its support for terrorism have cost countless innocent lives. No political statement can whitewash this reality,” he said.
The BJP leader accused Abdullah of political inconsistency, alleging that the NC leader changes his position on Pakistan depending on his proximity to power. “When Farooq Abdullah seeks power, privileges and perks from Central Government, Pakistan becomes an enemy for him. But when he reaches power, the same enemy suddenly becomes his friend. This glaring contradiction exposes the political convenience behind his statements,” Noorabadi said.
He argued that Pakistan’s backing of militancy has remained a major obstacle to peace and stability in the region, and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have paid a heavy price in lives lost, families displaced and development delayed. Noorabadi asserted that India’s national security, the dignity of its citizens and the lives of innocent Kashmiris must never be subordinated to political convenience.
The exchange is the latest in a long running political contest between the BJP and the National Conference, the party that leads the elected government in the Union Territory under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Relations with Pakistan have been among the most sensitive subjects in the politics of the region since 1947, and remarks by senior leaders on the issue routinely draw strong reactions across party lines.
Pakistan has been blamed by Indian authorities for years for sheltering and supporting militant groups that have targeted civilians and security forces in the Valley. New Delhi has consistently maintained that talks and terror cannot go together, while regional parties have often argued for dialogue as the route to lasting peace.
Political observers say the debate reflects a deeper divide over how best to secure stability in Jammu and Kashmir, with the BJP stressing a firm security led approach and the National Conference favouring engagement alongside the restoration of democratic institutions.
At the time of filing, the National Conference had not issued a detailed response to Noorabadi’s remarks.
