'Won't Suggest Retaliation…': Farooq Abdullah Says India Should 'Finish Terrorism' After Pahalgam Attack
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While NC chief Farooq Abdullah earlier voiced support for PM Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan, he said he will not suggest a retaliation but a "befitting response"
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said India's response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam should be to 'finish terrorism forever".
While Abdullah earlier voiced support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam attack, he said he will not suggest a retaliation as such but a 'befitting response".
'I am not going to suggest retaliation. I just want them to give a befitting response so that terrorism is finished forever," he told CNN-News18. 'Pahelgam was a disaster. Innocent people who had nothing to do with anything were killed."
Terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley on April 22, in what can be called one of the deadliest strikes in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack.
He questioned the security apparatus in the Valley and demanded immediate statehood, a stand not taken by his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had said he will not use the tragedy as an opportunity for this. He expressed surprise that the perpetrators had not been caught.
'We have the government but security is not under us. When (Article) 370 was there, in 1996 we made a unified command. Many opposed, but we made it together and it was beautifully done, so well that it was taken to Manipur," he said.
The NC chief further said the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) is not elected, but the CM is. 'The L-G will be gone, but we will stay here. I will ask today, where was the security? We demand statehood to be given immediately. I am surprised the perpetrators have not been caught yet," he said.
He further pointed out while the Prime Minister has authorised the three service chiefs to retaliate in any appropriate manner, no decision can be taken without the PM, home minister and defence minister. 'The PM has given full authority to the three forces. But, no decision can be taken without the PM, HM (home minister) and defence minister. They can't leave the responsibility to others," he added.
First Published:
May 01, 2025, 16:08 IST
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