Pakistan Is Not Weak Enough to Let India Take PoK: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on 15 November, Thursday made another controversial statement saying Pakistan was "not weak to allow India to take that part of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation".

Addressing party workers in Uri area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, the former chief minister said, "How long shall we keep saying that (PoK) is our part? It (PoK) is not their father's share. That (PoK) is Pakistan and this (J-K) is India."

He said 70 years have "passed but they (India) could not get it (PoK)".

Today, they (India) claim it is our part. So take it (PoK), we are also saying please take it (from Pakistan). We will also see. They (Pakistan) are not weak and are not wearing bangles. They too have atom bomb. Before we think about war, we should think how we will live as humans.

Farooq Abdullah

The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar had raked up controversy last week when he said that PoK belongs to Pakistan.

PoK Belongs to Pakistan, This Won’t Change: Abdullah

Abdullah said on 11 November, that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to Pakistan and "this won't change" no matter how many wars India and Pakistan fight against each other. Abdullah told PTI

I tell them in plain terms – not only the people of India, but also to the world – that the part (of J&K) which is with Pakistan (PoK) belongs to Pakistan and this side to India. This won’t change. Let them fight how many wars they want to. This won’t change

Farooq Abdullah

“And when the situation is such, then they have to talk, so that we live in peace, both parts live in peace and for that it is imperative to grant autonomy to both the parts,” he said.

His comments drew the ire of the BJP and a case was also filed against him in Bihar.

‘Talk of Independent Kashmir Wrong’

Abdullah also said that talk of an independent Kashmir was "wrong" as the Valley is landlocked and surrounded by three nuclear powers – China, Pakistan and India.

"I am saying that there is nothing like the issue of freedom (independent Kashmir) here. We are landlocked. On one side we have China, Pakistan on the other side and India on the third side," the MP from Srinagar told reporters on the sidelines of a function at the party headquarters.

All three of them have atom bombs. We have nothing except Allah’s name

"Those (separatists) who are talking about Azadi, are talking wrong," the former J&K chief minister said.

On the demand for autonomy, he said that while the state decided to join India out of love, the country "betrayed" the people of Kashmir and did not treat them well. “We should understand that there has been a decision (of accession), but India didn’t treat us well. India betrayed us. They did not recognise the love with which we chose to join them. That is the reason behind the current situation in Kashmir. Internal autonomy is our right. They (Centre) should restore it. Only then the peace will return (to the Valley),” he said.

Asked whether the visit of the Centre's special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sahrma to the state was successful, Abdullah said only Sharma could say anything about it.

"I can only say that while he has held talks, only talks will not address the issue as this issue is between two countries – Pakistan and India. The government of India has to talk to the government of Pakistan as a part of J&K is with them (Pakistan)," he said.

Also read: Who is Dineshwar Sharma, Man Appointed to Hold Dialogue in Kashmir

Abdullah Didn’t Ask for Autonomy When he Was CM: Jitendra Singh

Reacting to the remarks, Minister of State Jitendra Singh said, “When he was made the CM 40 years back he had stopped his demand for autonomy. When he is not in power now, he is speaking out such things in a bid to regain a little power. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are much more intelligent than this.”

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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