India-Pak reconciliation only way to stop terror incidents: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Oct 23: Days after the Gagangeer Ganderbal militant attack, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said Jammu and Kashmir was bearing the brunt of the animosity between India and Pakistan, and reconciliation between the two was the only way to stop such incidents.

“The people of J&K are stuck in the animosity between the two countries. Their lives and their property are getting destroyed because the two countries are fighting each other. J&K is bearing the brunt and the poor non-local labourers are also suffering because of that,” Mehbooba told reporters after visiting the residence of Dr Shahnawaz Dar, who was killed in Sunday’s attack, in Naidgam village of Budgam district.

The former chief minister said Dar was serving the people and was an honourable man but suffered because of the animosity between the two countries.

“Until both the countries sit together, talk cordially and take the path of reconciliation like (former prime minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee, the people of J&K and the rest of the country will continue to witness such incidents,” she said.

Mehbooba refused to comment on National Conference President Farooq Abdullah's recent remarks that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops violence.

"Every person in J&K, not just Mehbooba Mufti, wants this violence to end and that the two countries sit together and talk so that we get out of this bloodshed," she said.