US must rein in Israel to secure Iran ceasefire: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the US should exert some control over Israel and stop bombing of Lebanon to ensure the success of the ceasefire with Iran.

Abdullah said he personally believes that India’s relations with Israel have become a bit of a weakness as Israel wants this war thrust upon Iran. He said the Pakistan-facilitated peace talks to resolve the conflict managed to do what others could not.

“The US should exert some control over Israel. The way they are conducting indiscriminate bombing campaigns in Lebanon and the manner in which innocent lives are being taken there, how can a ceasefire possibly hold?” Abdullah told media persons on the sidelines of an official function.


In response to a query on mediation between the US and Iran, he said, “I won’t go into whether it was a failure or a success of (India), but we have to accept that Pakistan did what others couldn’t. I personally believe that our relations with Israel have become a bit of a weakness. Because, as I said, only Israel wants this war. Perhaps if we weren’t so close to Israel, India could have done what Pakistan did, because we have good relations with both the US and Iran.”

Abdullah further said, “In my personal opinion, that we couldn’t play this role because our relations with Israel are too close. Now, the ceasefire that happened was good; if Pakistan played a role in it, then so be it.”

The CM said that the ceasefire was a welcome initiative, but if it fails, “the blame will be solely on Israel”. “It will not be a fault of Iran or anyone else. So, the US should exert some restraint over Israel,” he said.

Asked about US President Donald Trump’s fresh threat if talks with Iran failed, he said perhaps the US President himself doesn’t know what he is doing.

“He says one thing in the morning, another thing in the afternoon and the third one in the evening. The language that he uses is unbecoming of anyone, let alone the US President. He ought to remind himself that he holds the office of the US President,” said Abdullah.

He said if anyone else used such language on social media, they would be blocked and their account seized. “But because he is the US President, people fear him and there is no action against him,” he said.

Abdullah also questioned the actual objective of this war, stating that Iran had not initiated it. "First, tell us what was the actual objective of this war? After the ceasefire, the US has claimed a monumental victory, citing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But the Strait of Hormuz was already open prior to the war and it was accessible to everyone, free of charge,” he said.

After the war, Abdullah said, Iran seized the opportunity to declare that a toll tax must now be paid for passing through the strait. “So, what exactly has been achieved?” he asked.