Most Kashmiris, including in PoK, want to be with India: Farooq Abdullah

Most Kashmiris, including in PoK, want to be with India: Farooq Abdullah 

source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Most-Kashmiris-including-in-PoK-want-to-be-with-India-Farooq/articleshow/6439956.cms

26 AUG, 2010, 06.07PM IST,PTI 

NEW DELHI: Contending that most people of Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistani occupation, want to be with India, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah today ridiculed demands for "independence", saying the separatists were not aware of its consequences. 

Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the situation in Kashmir, the Union Minister warned that the state would face the problems as are posed by elements like Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan if it became independent. 

He pressed for autonomy for the state, saying such a step would make India truly federal and strong. 

"Most Kashmiris want to find a solution to the problems within India... We want to find a solution to the problem within India...not in Pakistan, China or in America," said the former Chief Minister, whose party is in power in the state. 

"We want Jammu and Kashmir of Raja Hari Singh," he said making it clear that he wanted re-integration of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Northern Areas with other parts of the state as existed before 1947. 

Making a strong plea to political parties, particularly the BJP, to understand the sentiments of the people of the state, he said the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Northern Areas, would remain part of India. 

"Those in Kashmir demanding 'azadi' (independence) have not realised the consequences of such a demand. Kashmir too faces a threat from Taliban elements and a situation similar to Afghanistan and Pakistan will arise in the state too (if independence is granted)," Abdullah said. 

He warned about the dangerous consequences of independence as he stated that he had visited Jalalabad in Afghanistan where he had seen that not a single building or a house was intact. 

"Is that the kind of freedom we want? Those demanding independence, don't they see the situation in Afghanistan," he said, while pointing out that "Taliban and other terror groups have wrecked havoc in Pakistan and Afghanistan."