India, Pakistan should resolve differences: Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: The element of "suspicion and hostility" between India and Pakistan should be removed and both the countries should sit across the dialogue table and resolve their differences, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said.

Omar's remarks came at a time when leaders of SAARC nations including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif are in Kathmandu for the regional summit.

Talking to media persons after filing the second set of nomination papers from Sonawar Assembly seat, which goes to polls in the fourth phase on December 14, the Chief Minister also appreciated the Prime Minister's outreach to neighbouring countries.

Asked about the possibility of talks between India and Pakistan during the ongoing SAARC Summit, Omar favoured a dialogue and said, "I don't think there is anybody in the right mind who would not want dialogue.

"At the end of the day, we tried all other alternatives to resolve our differences with Pakistan. We fought wars, we suspended dialogue but the closest we have come to resolving our differences is when India and Pakistan have been talking to each other, either during (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee saheb's time or during Dr Manmohan Singh's time.

"And, therefore, we do hope that this sort of element of suspicion and hostility, that has crept into our relation, can gradually be done with and if the SAARC Summit provides that opportunity, then nothing like that," Omar said.