‘Independent Kashmir not a reality, India needs to stop treating us as slaves’ Says Farooq

Poonch: National Conference President and Member Parliament on Saturday said that independent Kashmir was not a reality as the landlocked region is surrounded by three nuclear powers: China, Pakistan and India.
“Independence is no option. On one side we have nuclear powers China and Pakistan and on other India. And all have atom bombs. We have nothing except the name of Allah. We have no atom bombs, no army and no jets. How are we going to survive,” Abdullah told a gathering at Mandi in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the three-time Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said that Kashmiris were not slaves to India and that the country must respect the honour and dignity of people of Kashmir.
“Unless and until you don’t give us back the respect to us, the situation in Kashmir won’t change. They (India) can’t buy us with money even if they build golden roads. They must win hearts and minds of people,” he said.
Reiterating that gun was not a solution to Kashmir issue, Abdullah said that the problem can be resolved only by winning the hearts of people and ending their sufferings. He said that Kashmiris were not joining Pakistan. “Our nation is not going to Pakistan. Their condition is such that they are not able to handle themselves,” he told the gathering.