Stop spreading terrorism in India, former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah warns Pakistan

National Conference President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Oct 21 warned Pakistan to stop spreading terrorism in India if it wanted good relations with the neighboring country.

Abdullah strongly condemned the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderabl district on Oct 20 that left six non-local workers and a doctor dead.

"I want to tell the leadership in Pakistan that if they want good relations with India, they need to put an end to this. Kashmir Pakistan nahi banega (Kashmir will never become Pakistan). Let us live with dignity and succeed," he was quoted as saying.

Abdullah, whose party recently formed a government in the Union territory warned Pakistan of "very severe" consequences if it didn't stop fostering terrorism on its soil.

"If they could not create a Pakistan for 75 years, how would it be possible now?... It is time to end terrorism, otherwise the results will be very severe... How will talks be held if they kill our innocent people?" he added.

He regretted the loss of the lives of poor laborers and a doctor in the terror attack.

“What will the terrorists get from this? Do they think they will be able to create a Pakistan here? We are trying to put this to an end so we can move on from the misery," he said.

Meanwhile, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team reached Kashmir on Oct 21 to investigate the terror attack.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Oct 20 described the terror attack as a “despicable act of cowardice.”

"Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured," Shah posted on X.

J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Oct 21 directed Shri Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary (Home Department, J&K) to immediately provide financial assistance to the families of victims of the Ganderbal terror attack.

A government spokesman in a statement said that ₹6 lakh will be given to the next of kin of each martyred civilian and ₹15 lakh as an immediate measure to be provided by Infratech Private Limited — a company that works in the construction and infrastructure sector. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh will be provided to all the injured, he added.

"Though it is an irreparable loss and cannot be compensated monetarily, we are taking concrete measures for the families of the martyr civilians so that they live a life of dignity," the Lieutenant Governor said in a statement.