SRINAGAR: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised National Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his remarks concerning the Tulbul Navigation Project and the control of water flow across the border, calling them “deeply irresponsible” and “ill-timed” at a time when the ceasefire between India and Pakistan remains tenuous.
According to a statement issued by the PDP, invoking controversial issues related to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) at such a sensitive juncture could inflame tensions and jeopardise the lives of people residing in border areas. The party said the government’s recent decision to regulate water flow follows rising hostilities and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, underscoring the urgent need for restraint and maturity in political discourse.
“Leaders must act with maturity, not opportunism,” the statement read, warning that stoking conflict rhetoric in a volatile atmosphere would only harm Jammu and Kashmir the most.
The PDP also addressed recent claims concerning the 2002 Legislative Council resolution on the IWT, clarifying that it was introduced by a National Conference MLC and passed because of the NC’s majority in the Upper House—not with PDP’s support. “Our stand has always been consistent—Jammu and Kashmir must serve as a bridge of peace between the two countries,” the party said.
The PDP called Omar Abdullah’s suggestion to scrap the treaty and raise the Tulbul Navigation Project in current circumstances “short-sighted” and “dangerous,” stating that such rhetoric risks escalation along the Line of Control.
The PDP cautioned against using the IWT as a “pretext for war”. “Introducing contentious issues at this moment only pushes both countries closer to confrontation,” the party asserted.
The PDP concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, stating, “Any attempt to stoke war will harm Kashmir more than anyone else. We demand peace, justice, and a future where Jammu and Kashmir is no longer made to pay the price of military attacks and cross-border shelling.”
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