Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said that conversion of Line of Control (LOC) into International Border (IB) is the only tangible way to solve problems between India and Pakistan. “Easing of border tension and stopping terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is imperative for picking up the threads for talks again with the neighboring country,” said Abdullah during a two-hour interaction with a five-member British Parliamentary delegation here on Wednesday. He, however, ruled out any third party mediation saying all issues with Pakistan have to be sorted out bilaterally. Stating that the Lahore peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a major opening towards normalizing relations with Pakistan, he said that it however, received a setback due to Kargil incursions. He said that the recent Centre-Hizbul Mujahideen talks fizzled out because of Pakistani sabotage. “The talks could have been given a chance for some time to search for peace in the state,” he added. On the autonomy issue, Abdullah said its demand in no way meant secession or weakening of relation of the state with the rest of the nation. Abdullah said that the center has agreed to constitute a committee to discuss the issue. Bureau Report