War no solution, only brings misery: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Oct 23 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Wednesday that wars have never solved any issue and only bring destruction and misery.

Omar Abdullah expressed the hope that the situation would improve

"No one in Jammu and Kashmir or in the country is in favour of war, as wars are no solution to any issue", Omar Abdullah said while addressing a public rally in Tangdhar (Karnah), a town bordering Pakistan in Kupwara district of the state.

The chief minister, however, added that friendship requires reciprocity: "Friendship is like the clap, needing two hands," he said.

"If one side extends the hand of friendship, the other side also needs to reciprocate", he said while expressing grave concern over the repeated ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border by Pakistani troops.

The chief minister said the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, signed and implemented in 2003, had brought great rewards for the people living close to the LoC and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir but the repeated firing from Pakistan was cause for concern.

"I would continue to stress on the union government to take up this matter with Pakistan and resolve the issue so that peace rules on the borders and at the LoC," he said, adding that it would greatly benefit the people living in the frontier areas of the state.

Omar Abdullah expressed the hope that the situation would improve and the neighbours would settle outstanding issues by talking to each other, amicably and peacefully.

The chief minister said repeated unprovoked firing from Pakistan -- its troops violated ceasefire at 50 places on Tuesday -- had forced the state administration to shift residents of villages along the border to safer places.