SRINAGAR, Sept 13: Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference, stated on Wednesday that until India and Pakistan engage in discussion to find a permanent resolution to all disputes, militancy in Jammu and Kashmir will not cease. “Encounters will continue to occur. It would be incorrect to claim that militancy has ended. These events occurred yesterday and they are occurring today. They will continue to occur until both countries sit down to negotiate a resolution, Abdullah said following a meeting at the party office in this city. Abdullah expressed concern that removing the additional duty on the import of apples, walnuts, and almonds from the US might result in a drop in the cost of local produce.“We worry about how this would affect the fruit industries in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand. The farmers, who have invested a lot of money, fear that if local produce prices decline, they would lose money. “I appeal to the government to take this matter seriously so that farmers are not harmed. It wouldn’t be good for the nation if they lost, he remarked.The coordination committee meeting of the opposition INDIA alliance is planned to take place in the national capital on Wednesday, but the former chief minister declined to comment on the topic. “On behalf of the National Conference, Omar Abdullah attended the meeting. After the meeting, I’ll let you know what was decided,” he stated.
