SRINAGAR – Linking India’s strike on Balakot to its upcoming elections,former chief minister of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) Farooq Abdullah saidthat the airstrikes carried out in Pakistan was a gimmick purely forelections.
Speaking to the Indian media, the former CM of IoK further said that allIndia gained from these airstrikes was the loss of its jets worth millionsof rupees. “This surgical strike was totally for elections,” he said,adding that there was no question about any deaths during the strikes. Heretorted that all India had gained from the strikes was the loss of its ownjet which was worth millions.
The former CM further said India should be thankful that the pilot survivedand was returned by Pakistan with respect. “We always knew that there wouldbe a fight with Pakistan. This surgical strike was done as elections areapproaching,” Abdullah added. He said it was saddening that Indiangovernment can get so low.
While speaking about the elections, Abdullah said that everyone is upsetover Election Commission’s plan to not hold Assembly polls in Jammu andKashmir. The ex-CM said that the Election Commission can do Parliamentelections as the security is okay for that, but they cannot do Assemblyelections. He said it was a wrong decision.
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Following the Pulwama attack, Abdullah had said India should start peacetalks with Kashmiris and not blame Pakistan only for the attack. He alsourged India to talk with Kashmiris as using the force of guns and army isnot the solution.