India and Pakistan equally involved in each other's tragedies: Farooq Abdullah

JAMMU: In another controversial statement, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday claimed that both India and Pakistan are equally “involved” in each other's “tragedies”.

Raking up the past, Abdullah said that India did not divide Pakistan by taking Bangladesh.

“Our neighbour has its own hates. They think we have divided Pakistan by taking Bangladesh. We were not dividers. The tragedy was in the country itself. It was not our creation. That is the tragedy we still face,” said Abdullah.

He went on to say, "And don’t say we are not involved in their tragedy. As much as they are involved in our tragedy, we are also involved in their tragedies. It’s not one-sided."

Last week, the National Conference leader had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the courage to hold talks with Pakistan. "I congratulate Jammu and Kashmir CM for realizing that till we have talks with Pakistan, militancy will not end. I feel Modi ji has the courage to initiate this and take it to the logical end," he had said.

In November 2017, Abdullah had stirred a controversy by saying that the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to Pakistan.

“The (PoK) part which is with Pakistan belongs to the neighbouring country and this side to India. If the Indian government wants peace it will have to talk to Pakistan and conclude that an autonomy be given to us as well as them,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.