The demilitarisation of Siachen should not be treated separately from the Kashmir issue, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah advised the governments of India and Pakistan on Saturday. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said Pakistan was under pressure to find a solution to the Siachen glacier issue, but other issues should not be left out as part of the comprehensive dialogue process.
“Why is Siachen being treated separately? From one point, our neighbours (Pakistan) talk of finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute… Siachen is also a part of Jammu and Kashmir, then why is it being treated separately? Why not solve the whole dispute?” Abdullah said. He tried to draw the attention of the governments towards issues like Sir Creek, while reminding them that in a comprehensive dialogue process, all the issues must be discussed. “Why only Siachen, there are other issues like Sir Creek, peace in Jammu and Kashmir, trade and so on. Combined efforts of both countries will lead to a solution. This is a comprehensive dialogue and in it you cannot focus on every issue separately,” he said.
