SRINAGAR: Everyone except “a few media anchors living far away in Mumbai and Noida” want the pause in military operations between India and Pakistan to hold, J&K CM Omar Abdullah said Tuesday while continuing his outreach to residents of forward areas affected the most by shelling and drone attacks from across the LoC.
“People living along the LoC, and even those in Srinagar and Jammu who have witnessed the situation first-hand, they all want the pause to continue,” Omar told reporters after touring north Kashmir’s battered border areas.
“There has been extensive damage. Houses have been affected, shops have suffered destruction, and even a seminary has not been spared. The damage assessment will be completed within two days,” he said.
The CM said the refrain across villages and towns he visited over the past three days was that bunkers should be built for all civilians. “For years, bunkers weren’t constructed because the situation didn’t demand it. Our govt will soon draft a policy on this and we will discuss it with the central govt.”
Omar, who visited Tangdhar, Hajinard, Nachiyan, Shamspora, Baghbela, Batpora and Tarbonim, said the administration would do whatever it takes to help the affected population rebuild what they had lost. “The affected families have shown remarkable courage in the face of adversity. Their resilience is inspiring. The govt stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Their pain will not go unnoticed,” he said.
In Srinagar, PDP president and ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti said cross-border engagement was possible even in tense times without compromising the country’s security or sovereignty.
“I appeal to all the opposition parties to resist the urge for knee-jerk criticism or political point-scoring. Just as the Pahalgam (terrorist) incident united voices from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is a need to build a national consensus around a peace process that safeguards national interest,” Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba said ex-PMs Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh proved that cross-border engagement was possible without putting security or sovereignty at stake. “The Modi government should not be politically penalised for exploring peaceful means. This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship, not division.”
Like Omar, she slammed those who criticise the pause in hostilities “from the comfort of air-conditioned studios and drawing rooms”, saying “they should spend time with their families on the borders to truly understand the daily reality of death and destruction”.
“People living along the LoC, and even those in Srinagar and Jammu who have witnessed the situation first-hand, they all want the pause to continue,” Omar told reporters after touring north Kashmir’s battered border areas.
“There has been extensive damage. Houses have been affected, shops have suffered destruction, and even a seminary has not been spared. The damage assessment will be completed within two days,” he said.
The CM said the refrain across villages and towns he visited over the past three days was that bunkers should be built for all civilians. “For years, bunkers weren’t constructed because the situation didn’t demand it. Our govt will soon draft a policy on this and we will discuss it with the central govt.”
Omar, who visited Tangdhar, Hajinard, Nachiyan, Shamspora, Baghbela, Batpora and Tarbonim, said the administration would do whatever it takes to help the affected population rebuild what they had lost. “The affected families have shown remarkable courage in the face of adversity. Their resilience is inspiring. The govt stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Their pain will not go unnoticed,” he said.
In Srinagar, PDP president and ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti said cross-border engagement was possible even in tense times without compromising the country’s security or sovereignty.
“I appeal to all the opposition parties to resist the urge for knee-jerk criticism or political point-scoring. Just as the Pahalgam (terrorist) incident united voices from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is a need to build a national consensus around a peace process that safeguards national interest,” Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba said ex-PMs Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh proved that cross-border engagement was possible without putting security or sovereignty at stake. “The Modi government should not be politically penalised for exploring peaceful means. This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship, not division.”
Like Omar, she slammed those who criticise the pause in hostilities “from the comfort of air-conditioned studios and drawing rooms”, saying “they should spend time with their families on the borders to truly understand the daily reality of death and destruction”.
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