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Omar Abdullah calls for ceasefire extension

"With the ceasefire, we are conveying the message to the world that we are ready to hold talks and are asking Pakistan to come to the negotiating table," Abdullah told reporters at a press conference in Pune.

It was to mobilise world public opinion, which was now in favour of India following the ceasefire, he said replying to a question on what was the need to extend the ceasefire when the situation had not improved.

He said, "Hurriyat has lost its relevance and does not have any leg to stand on after being snubbed by United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan on the issue of third party intervention."

Abdullah said the infiltration has come down in the Kashmir Valley and harassment of the common man has been 'considerably reduced'.

He said Pakistan was creating trouble in the border areas as its economy has failed and there was no democracy or a social infrastructure to rely upon.

Hence, creating problems by raking up the Kashmir issue was a ploy by the Pakistani authorities to divert attention from its failures, Abdullah added.

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