Srinagar, Nov 12: National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has reiterated that Pakistan must abandon terrorism and choose dialogue with India, marking a renewed emphasis on peace and engagement amid fresh terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.

His latest remarks reflect a message that combines a firm rejection of terrorism, an assertion of Jammu and Kashmir's position as an integral part of India and an appeal for diplomatic engagement with Pakistan.
Addressing reporters in Jammu on Thursday, Abdullah said terrorism would never succeed in Kashmir and warned those harbouring ambitions of capturing the region through violence against entertaining such notions.
“Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India,” he asserted, adding that terrorist activities could neither intimidate people nor alter the region's political status.
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The remarks come less than three weeks after Abdullah triggered a political controversy with his October 24 statement at a party convention in Baramulla, where he suggested that Pakistan's efforts to keep the Kashmir issue alive internationally were helping protect the region's future.
“They say the decision regarding Kashmir has not been made. That is what will save us,” he had said, while adding that Pakistan's intentions were otherwise not good. The remarks drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused him of legitimising Pakistan's position on Kashmir.
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Abdullah has since sought to clarify his position, recalling the atrocities committed during the 1947 tribal invasion, including the killings and assaults in Kashmir. On Thursday, he reiterated that Pakistan must stop supporting terrorism and move beyond repeatedly raising the Kashmir issue.
His latest appeal came against the backdrop of recent security incidents in Kulgam and Kishtwar. Two Special Police Officers were killed in Kishtwar, while three CRPF personnel were injured in an attack in Kulgam. Abdullah expressed concern over claims that terrorism had ended in Jammu and Kashmir, saying such incidents demonstrated that the threat persisted.
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He also argued that military confrontation cannot resolve political disputes and that India and Pakistan should not wait for all hostilities to end before initiating dialogue.
“If you keep waiting for everyone to stop firing, it will be too late by the time the guns fall silent,” he said, making a strong pitch for meaningful engagement between the two countries.
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Abdullah cited the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to underline the destructive consequences of war, arguing that negotiations remain the only viable route towards lasting peace.
He also called for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), saying regional countries should come together, resolve their differences and pursue shared development. Citing the European Union as an example, he said former adversaries could overcome historical differences through cooperation.
The National Conference leader's position, therefore, brings together two distinct but connected messages: a categorical rejection of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and support for diplomatic engagement to resolve outstanding differences.
His remarks underline that dialogue, in his view, should not be confused with acceptance of terrorism or any compromise on Jammu and Kashmir's status as an integral part of India.