Srinagar: Supporting Centre-appointed
interlocutors for their comments on involving Pakistan, Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah today said the neighbouring country has
a role in Jammu and Kashmir which cannot be ignored.
"Nothing what the interlocutors had said with regard
to Pakistan`s role in Jammu and Kashmir is wrong. After Simla
agreement whenever talks were held with Pakistan, Kashmir has
figured in it," he told reporters here.
Parliament had passed a resolution in 1995 calling
for withdrawal of Pakistani troops from PoK, Omar said on the
sidelines of a function here.
"Rightly or wrongly, is it not making Pakistan a
party. Pakistan has a role in Jammu and Kashmir. How can you
ignore it?" asked the Chief Minister.
Reacting to BJP criticism of Dileep Padgaonkar, head
of the interlocutors` team, for his comments, Omar said it was
their habit to create an issue by listening to half the story.
"(Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee went to
Lahore and spoke about resolution of Kashmir," he said.
Yesterday, the BJP slammed Padgaonkar for his comments
on involving Pakistan in resolution of the Kashmir issue and
demanded the PMO to clarify if this was part of the brief of
the team.
Padgaonkar had stuck to his remarks saying what he
had said about Pakistan was "obvious" and there was nothing
new.
-PTI
