Farooq Abdullah's stern message after Gulmarg terror attack: ‘Kashmir will never become part of Pakistan’

Gulmarg terror attack: Following a series of terror attacks in the past two weeks in the Valley, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday said Jammu and Kashmir will never be a part of Pakistan and called for an end to the country's promotion of terrorism in the region.

The former Lok Sabha MP said that the attacks will keep happening until a solution is found, adding that he has seen this for 30 years.

“Innocent people are being killed and we will never become a part of Pakistan. So why are they doing this? Is it to ruin our future?” Farooq questioned.

He said that Pakistan should focus on its own country, look at its own development and work to improve it.

“Khud barbaad ho rahe hain aur hume bhi saath barbaad kar rahe hain (Pakistan is destroying itself and dragging us down as well.) I urge them to stop this terrorism and seek a path of friendship. If they don't do this, it will be very difficult for them,” the veteran leader said.

In the last fortnight, 20 lives have been lost, including those of civilians, workers, non-residents, a doctor and Army porters. The latest incident took place on the evening of October 24 in Gulmarg, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers and two Indian Army porters.

Officials said that terrorists opened fire on two army trucks at Botapathri, approximately 6 km from the tourist destination of Gulmarg.

The convoy was transporting personnel from a Rashtriya Rifles unit along with civilian porters to the Nagin post in the Afrawat range.

Earlier on October 20, seven people lost their lives in a terrorist attack at a construction site in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir. The victims included a doctor from Budgam and six others from outside the Valley.

This attack marked the most lethal assault on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir since the June 9 incident in Reasi, where nine pilgrims lost their lives when their bus fell into a valley after coming under gunfire from terrorists.