Last Updated:
While NC chief Farooq Abdullah earlier voiced support for PM Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan, he said he will not suggest a retaliation but a “befitting response”
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has voiced support for PM Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. (Image: PTI/File)
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said India’s response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam should be to “finish terrorism forever”.
While Abdullah earlier voiced support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam attack, he said he will not suggest a retaliation as such but a “befitting response”.
“I am not going to suggest retaliation. I just want them to give a befitting response so that terrorism is finished forever,” he told CNN-News18. “Pahelgam was a disaster. Innocent people who had nothing to do with anything were killed.”
Terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley on April 22, in what can be called one of the deadliest strikes in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack.
ALSO READ | ‘Indians United Against Terrorism, Don’t Demoralise Forces’: SC Rebukes Pahalgam Petitioner
He questioned the security apparatus in the Valley and demanded immediate statehood, a stand not taken by his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had said he will not use the tragedy as an opportunity for this. He expressed surprise that the perpetrators had not been caught.
“We have the government but security is not under us. When (Article) 370 was there, in 1996 we made a unified command. Many opposed, but we made it together and it was beautifully done, so well that it was taken to Manipur,” he said.
The NC chief further said the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) is not elected, but the CM is. “The L-G will be gone, but we will stay here. I will ask today, where was the security? We demand statehood to be given immediately. I am surprised the perpetrators have not been caught yet,” he said.
He further pointed out while the Prime Minister has authorised the three service chiefs to retaliate in any appropriate manner, no decision can be taken without the PM, home minister and defence minister. “The PM has given full authority to the three forces. But, no decision can be taken without the PM, HM (home minister) and defence minister. They can’t leave the responsibility to others,” he added.
ALSO READ | Snub To Ishaq Dar? Why Marco Rubio Ditched His Counterpart, Went Straight To Shehbaz Sharif
Earlier in the day, Abdullah told news agency ANI that Pakistan is a “failed state” and said there will be no friendship between India and Pakistan if the latter is controlled by its army. He also said the people of Pakistan want friendship with India, but the army of the country does not, adding that Kashmiris are the ones suffering the most due to the situation.
Immediately after the Pahalgam attack, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines, expulsion of the country’s military attaches, putting the six-decade Indus Waters Treaty on hold among other measures. Pakistan retaliated with tit-for-tat measures and told India it has nothing to do with the terror strike while warning of a strong response if it is “provoked”.
- Location :
Srinagar, India, India
- First Published:
#Wont #Suggest #Retaliation #Farooq #Abdullah #India #Finish #Terrorism #Pahalgam #Attack
