Jammu, March 17 (Agencies): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the US should stop looking at the state only through the “prism of security” and should identify ways for extending its expertise in capacity building, environment projects and other areas. “The US should stop looking at Jammu and Kashmir only through a security prism and should have a look at normal activities which includes helping in capacity building and providing expertise in environmental projects,” Omar said after US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer called on him at his residence here.
During the hour-long meeting, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir stands as the biggest beneficiary of the better relations between India and Pakistan. “We stand as the biggest beneficiary of good relations between India and Pakistan and are worst sufferers in case of a stand-off,” he said. Roemer, who arrived here this morning on a 2-day visit to the state, reiterated the statement of President Barak Obama that the US was interested in better relations between India and Pakistan and that Kashmir issue was a bilateral matter between the two nations. The two leaders also discussed the security situation in the state before the Ambassador flew to Kashmir.
Political observers feel that his meeting with the Chief Minister was a clear message to separatist leaders – moderate as well as hardline - that the US will not support any group indulging in violence. Roemer will not be meeting leaders of any other political party or their representatives including that of the state’s main opposition PDP. He has confined his engagements to meeting school children and non-political NGOs.
US envoys to India have been visiting Jammu and Kashmir during the peak of militancy in 1990s. Later, a statement from the US Embassy quoted the Ambassador as saying “I want to engage with the people of Jammu & Kashmir just as I do with the people everywhere else in India. The youth are the leaders of tomorrow who will shape the destiny of the state. “I want to talk to them about their hopes and their aspirations for themselves and their community. I do this everywhere I travel - it is part of my job to talk and listen to people from all walks of life in all regions of the country. “I talk to people from all backgrounds and ethnic groups, to better understand the environment I work in and to better perform my job as America’s Ambassador to India,” Roemer said.
During the hour-long meeting, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir stands as the biggest beneficiary of the better relations between India and Pakistan. “We stand as the biggest beneficiary of good relations between India and Pakistan and are worst sufferers in case of a stand-off,” he said. Roemer, who arrived here this morning on a 2-day visit to the state, reiterated the statement of President Barak Obama that the US was interested in better relations between India and Pakistan and that Kashmir issue was a bilateral matter between the two nations. The two leaders also discussed the security situation in the state before the Ambassador flew to Kashmir.
Political observers feel that his meeting with the Chief Minister was a clear message to separatist leaders – moderate as well as hardline - that the US will not support any group indulging in violence. Roemer will not be meeting leaders of any other political party or their representatives including that of the state’s main opposition PDP. He has confined his engagements to meeting school children and non-political NGOs.
US envoys to India have been visiting Jammu and Kashmir during the peak of militancy in 1990s. Later, a statement from the US Embassy quoted the Ambassador as saying “I want to engage with the people of Jammu & Kashmir just as I do with the people everywhere else in India. The youth are the leaders of tomorrow who will shape the destiny of the state. “I want to talk to them about their hopes and their aspirations for themselves and their community. I do this everywhere I travel - it is part of my job to talk and listen to people from all walks of life in all regions of the country. “I talk to people from all backgrounds and ethnic groups, to better understand the environment I work in and to better perform my job as America’s Ambassador to India,” Roemer said.
