Omar Abdullah speaks to reporters in Srinagar after the terrorist attack in Kathua
Condemning the "dastardly" twin terror attacks, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said they are aimed at derailing talks between Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
"Given our history and given the timing as well as location of the attacks, one thing is obvious that the aim of these terrorists is to derail the proposed dialogue between the Prime Minister of India and Prime Minister of Pakistan," he told reporters in Srinagar today.
Mr Abdullah said the forces inimical to interests of Jammu and Kashmir have always tried to derail the peace process between India and Pakistan and the terror strikes were a step in that direction.
"These (attackers) are forces that have always been inimical to the interests of Jammu and Kashmir ...that have always tried to derail any peace process that is sought to be initiated. They have sought to keep the turmoil in the state on. This is another step in that direction," he said.
Terrorists in army fatigues this morning stormed a police station and an army camp in Jammu region killing 10 people including a Lieutenant Colonel.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pak PM Nawaz Sharif are scheduled to meet on Sunday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.
Mr Abdullah said there will be political pressure on the PM not to move ahead in the dialogue process with Pakistan but any such move will mean a victory for the perpetrators of the attacks in Kathua and Samba.
"Clearly there will be political pressure brought to bear on the Prime Minister to resist any further movement in the dialogue process. Obviously, it is for the Prime Minister and his advisers to decide how to proceed further in this matter," Mr Abdullah said.
"As far as we in this state are concerned, we have always been committed to a peaceful resolution of all problems that have existed in this state and we hope that it is the course that is followed," he said.
Mr Abdullah said it will be an injustice to the soldiers and civilians who were killed if the dialogue process is stalled due to the strikes.
"They did not lay down their lives to allow the terrorists to succeed in their designs. They laid down their lives for peace," he said.
The Chief Minister said Pakistan needs to be told in clear terms that it cannot be business as usual if such attacks continue. "But we need to convey this message sitting face-to-face with them," he said.