Afridi comments will not affect Indo-Pak dialogue, says Omar

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi's reported comments after his team's defeat in World Cup semi final, will not affect the Indo-Pakistan dialogue process.

"Clearly, the only risk this Indo-Pak dialogue process faces is terrorism. I do not believe that Shahid Afridi's statement will have any impact on the process," Omar told reporters here today reacting to Afridi's comments.

Omar said, "At least speaking for India, we are far more mature than to react to one individual's point of view. No matter how painful that point of view might be, we are committed to having a sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan."

He said, "So long as there is no violence like in Mumbai or elsewhere, I believe that this dialogue process will continue. I hope it will deliver results."

After reaching home following Pakistan's semifinal exit from the World Cup, Afridi had said, "It is a very difficult thing for us to live with them (Indians) or to have long-term relationship with them. Nothing will come out of talks. See how many times in the past 60 years we have had friendship and then how many times things have gone bad."

During a talk show in Pakistan he had said that Indians are not as large-hearted as Pakistanis while the Indian media has "negative approach".

Afridi, however, did a volte-face later claiming that he was misunderstood and quoted out of context.