Tackle border flare-up with cooler heads: Omar

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 28

As the situation on the border in Jammu region witnessed a fresh flare-up with Indian and Pakistani forces trading gunfire and mortars, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoped that “cooler heads and better sense” would prevail.

The working president of the National Conference said his “thoughts and prayers” were with all those affected by the latest ceasefire violations along the border in Jammu division.

The fresh ceasefire violation along the border in Jammu region had resulted in several casualties. As the two sides began trading fire from early morning, Omar described it as a “terrible start to the day”. “I hope cooler heads and better sense prevail. Thoughts and prayers with all affected,” Omar wrote on Twitter.

In another tweet, Omar said the “56-inch chests on both sides” should end the cross-border shelling. “Can the 56-inch chests on both sides please put an end to this death and destruction as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed concern over the loss of lives in shelling along the border in Shchetgarh and Sialkot areas of India and Pakistan.

He urged both countries to show restraint to avoid further loss of civilian lives and resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue.

“Day in and day out, there is shelling along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, the brunt of which is borne by people living over there and more so by Kashmiri people living on both sides,” Mirwaiz said in a statement today.

He expressed concern over loss of lives and property in shelling along the border in Suchetgarh and Silakot regions of India and Pakistan, respectively.

Mirwaiz said “increasing hostility” between India and Pakistan along the border was a “threat” to regional peace and stability.