“Hope both countries start new chapter for peace”: Farooq Abdullah after EAM arrives in Islamabad for SCO meet

Srinagar, October 15: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday expressed his happiness after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan for the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government and hoped that both countries will start a new chapter for peace.

“I am happy that the ice has broken with all our differences with Pakistan…I hope that both countries will start a new chapter for peace. I hope that good things will happen and that EAM S Jaishankar will remember Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words that friends can be changed neighbours cannot be changed…I hope he carries that message with him. Pakistan and India are one country before it was divided…Trade rather than going through Dubai will go directly through the Wagah border…A new chapter of friendship will start as much hatred has existed in the past. This hatred affects the Hindus in Pakistan and Muslims in India,” Abdullah told ANI.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan for the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government. The 23rd SCO CHG is all set to kick off on Wednesday in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, with top-notch security measures in place.

The National Conference President said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have expectations from the party and they will live up to their expectations.

“The public has a lot of expectations from us and I hope we will live up to their expectations…The central government should restore statehood as soon as possible and give all the powers to the state government so that it (the state government) can provide relief to the public…I hope Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will attend the swearing-in ceremony, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin’s sister Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, CPI leader D Raja, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat will attend the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah is set to take oath as the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on October 16.