'India equally responsible for Pakistan's tragedies', says Farooq Abdullah

Raking up another controversy, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday claimed that both India and Pakistan are equally "involved" in each other's "tragedies".

Addressing mediapersons, Farooq Abdullah said, "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. 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."

Further, he called upon the current Indian leadership to build a bridge between India and Pakistan.

"I still remember Vajpayee's word that he made at the border in Pakistan. He said friends can be changed, neighbours cannot be changed. You can either live in peace and progress with neighbours or live in enmity and harm each other which will not be of any good. I would like to say the same thing to present Prime Minister, let us build bridges," he added.

Meanwhile, Abdullah also stressed on the two countries to come together to combat terrorism.

"National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan have met in Bangkok. If there is terrorism, then it is necessary that both the countries (India and Pakistan) meet together and discuss over this issue," he 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.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)