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Sumir Kaul in New Delhi
Stating that Al Qaeda activists and Taliban had started trickling into Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday asked the Centre to formulate a fresh policy to deal with these elements and appealed to the international community not to 'turn a blind eye' to India's concerns.
"People talk that they might be coming but the fact is that they are already in there. No one should think that Pakistan might turn sincere. They have already pushed in the Taliban and Al Qaeda activists into the state," Abdullah, who met senior government leaders and bureaucrats on Wednesday, said.
"Peace is our first and foremost goal, but now the nation must arise and be ready to face any consequences as we are left with no option...," Abdullah said indicating that an 'iron-handed' policy was needed to deal with the neighbouring country.
"The situation has crossed all limits as Pakistan is reluctant to act against those responsible for attacks on Parliament and state assembly," Abdullah said.
He added, "The international community should not turn a blind eye and understand that the Al Qaeda militants, driven out of Afghanistan, have started coming into the state. They cannot be militants in one part of the globe and freedom fighters in another."
"There has practically been no response from Pakistan our demands," Abdullah said, adding the international community should have realised that Kashmir could not be separated from India.
"Pakistan has now thrown its complete weight behind outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashker-e-Tayiba as a stable Kashmir does not suit the health of those sitting in Islamabad and especially when their president (Pervez Musharraf) is seeking a referendum," he said.
Referring to Hurriyat Conference, Abdullah said, "Polls are round the corner in the state. My doors are open for them, let them come and contest. This exercise will remove several of their misconceptions."
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