US ‘friend' of countries only till its interests served, says Omar Abdullah

Hindustan Times

3 hours ago

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said the US was a "friend" of other countries only till its benefits were served, and Washington can do anything to secure its interests. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the US does "not care for any other country".(PTI)
Abdullah's remark came in response to a question by reporters on US President Donald Trump hosting Pakistan Army chief Asif Munir for a White House lunch.
"The US President is a master of his own will. Can we tell him whom he should invite for meals and whom not? It is a separate issue that we used to think the US President was our very special friend, and he would respect our friendship.
"But obviously, America does what benefits it. They do not care for any other country," the CM told reporters after getting down at the Srinagar Railway station, having returned from Jammu.
The chief minister had gone to Jammu on the recently launched Vande Bharat train, along with his father, Farooq Abdullah.
On his train journey, he said, "Had it not been good, why would I have returned via train by train. The manner in which the people are trying to book trains for this train, and that the process of waiting list has started, we want the length (capacity) and the frequency of the train to be increased."
He added, "It has become a successful service in just a few days; we would want more people to benefit from it."
Asked about the Iran-Israel conflict, the National Conference leader said the war should stop and the issue resolved through dialogue.
"This bombing should not have started. Before this, when the American intelligence in-charge was asked if Iran had the nuclear bomb, he had said he did not think Iran could make a bomb for a long time. But Israel attacked Iran within a few months. This attack should stop and the issues resolved through talks," he said.
On the local students studying in Iran, he said they will return gradually.
"We cannot bring them back overnight, as airports and ports are closed. We are bringing them via road first to those cities where there is no bombing, then they are being brought back through Armenia.
"We are hopeful that today, 300-400 students are returning, a majority of whom are from J-K. We will bring them home safely," he added.
Asked about power sharing with the lieutenant governor, Abdullah said the LG should approve the business rules that have been approved by the cabinet to end the confusion.
"I have never said LG has all the powers. You check the J-K Reservation Act. The LG has himself said that his responsibility is limited to only the security and law and order.
"That is why I am saying that the business rules approved by the cabinet should be signed and returned by the LG so that there is no confusion," he said.
"The LG has one responsibility: He should protect the people of J-K and improve the security scenario here … Rest of the responsibilities are ours," the CM added.