Former CM Omar Abdullah bats for talks, says gun no solution to resolve Kashmir issue

Asserting that dialogue is the only way to resolve Kashmir issue, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said gun is no solution to solve Kashmir issue and attempts have been made in the past but they have failed.

"If somebody has today batted for talks, it is nothing new. We have repeatedly said that gun is no solution to solve Kashmir issue and attempts have been made in the past but they have failed", Omar told reporters outside the State Assembly here today.

The leader of National Conference Legislative Party (NCLP) said "if you have to resolve this issue, then talks are only way to resolve it".

Omar was replying to a question about the PDP batting for talks with Pakistan and international stake holders like Hurriyat to resolve Kashmir issue.

Omar said "What initiative do you talk of? Please come out with my speeches of last six years. Whether it is the chief minister's internal security conference, Unified Command meetings, 26 January and 15 August speeches... and I have repeatedly reiterated in those speeches-- there is no other alternative other than the talks to resolve the issue".