New Delhi:
The Prime Minister's peace overture to Pakistan has come at the right time, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tells Barkha Dutt in The Buck Stops Here. "I think the message the PM had for Pakistan was important, was significant and he said everything that needed to be said," he said.
Barkha: Government and the home minister have been talking about "quiet diplomacy" and willing to talk all proposals; National Conference has been talking about autonomy. Do you think it is time to look at the proposal at this time?
Abdullah: "I think at this point in time it would be unfair on my part to take off the chief minister's hat and put on another one. As chief minister of the state the only thing I can say is that it is time the government of India engages all these people or parties that have come forward with credible proposals that can be discussed, whether that's the National Conference, the PDP, Sajjad Lone with his achievable nationhood. There are a number of prospective roadmaps that have been placed before the people and definitely the time has come for the government of India to engage them and see where the boundaries of a possible solution can be worked out."
Barkha: Now speaking of the Prime Minister's overture to Pakistan. Many say the Sharmal Sheikh has been a fiasco. Do you think it is the right time to reach out to Pakistan?
Abdullah: "I think Pakistan today is reeling under the sort of assault that they wouldn't have imagined possible a few years ago. I think they have begun to realize the futility of supporting the sort of forces that they were supporting against India and particularly against Jammu and Kashmir over the last two decades and perhaps this is the time when we can engage them and reinforce this point that they have nothing to gain by supporting these forces because today they are directed towards India tomorrow they will be directed towards Pakistan. And that's exactly what's happened. You can't ride the tiger without running the risk of being swallowed up by it. Therefore I think the message the Prime Minister had for Pakistan today was important, was significant and he said everything that needed to be said, which is we are committed to a dialogue with Pakistan, we believe that the majority in Pakistan wants a good healthy relationship with India but Pakistan also has to see that India has certain concerns that need to be taken on board."
Barkha: Government and the home minister have been talking about "quiet diplomacy" and willing to talk all proposals; National Conference has been talking about autonomy. Do you think it is time to look at the proposal at this time?
Abdullah: "I think at this point in time it would be unfair on my part to take off the chief minister's hat and put on another one. As chief minister of the state the only thing I can say is that it is time the government of India engages all these people or parties that have come forward with credible proposals that can be discussed, whether that's the National Conference, the PDP, Sajjad Lone with his achievable nationhood. There are a number of prospective roadmaps that have been placed before the people and definitely the time has come for the government of India to engage them and see where the boundaries of a possible solution can be worked out."
Barkha: Now speaking of the Prime Minister's overture to Pakistan. Many say the Sharmal Sheikh has been a fiasco. Do you think it is the right time to reach out to Pakistan?
Abdullah: "I think Pakistan today is reeling under the sort of assault that they wouldn't have imagined possible a few years ago. I think they have begun to realize the futility of supporting the sort of forces that they were supporting against India and particularly against Jammu and Kashmir over the last two decades and perhaps this is the time when we can engage them and reinforce this point that they have nothing to gain by supporting these forces because today they are directed towards India tomorrow they will be directed towards Pakistan. And that's exactly what's happened. You can't ride the tiger without running the risk of being swallowed up by it. Therefore I think the message the Prime Minister had for Pakistan today was important, was significant and he said everything that needed to be said, which is we are committed to a dialogue with Pakistan, we believe that the majority in Pakistan wants a good healthy relationship with India but Pakistan also has to see that India has certain concerns that need to be taken on board."
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