National Conference working president Omar Abdullah addresses party workers in Srinagar on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 30

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today described the situation in the state as a “cause of grave concern,” saying the militants were “no more deterred” from attacking armed forces even after the surgical strikes.In a series of tweets yesterday night, hours after the militant attack on an Army base in the Nagrota area of the Jammu region, and talking to reporters today on the sidelines of his party’s function here, Omar also said the state and the Central governments should secure the border and ensure peace.“Regardless of what BJP spokespersons would have us believe, Pakistan is no more isolated internationally today than it was six months ago,” Omar wrote on Twitter.In his tweets, Omar questioned the efficacy of the surgical strikes, launched against militant launch pads across the Line of Control on September 29 this year with a focus to ensure that militants “do not succeed in their design of infiltration.” “It is also true that terrorists are no more deterred from attacking our armed forces today than they were prior to the surgical strikes!” Omar said.Omar said the Central government “must explain its Pakistan policy”, as seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed yesterday in a deadly fidayeen attack on the Army base in Nagrota.While speaking to reporters today at his party’s headquarters here, Omar, who is the working president of the National Conference, said there was no doubt that the situation was cause of grave concern.“In recent months, we have seen serious deterioration in relations between India and Pakistan. We have seen a significant increase in tension along the LoC. Unfortunately, we have also seen a significant rise in militancy, resulting in far higher casualties than in recent years,” he said, adding that the situation pointed towards a “failure, both at the level of the state and Central government.”“We hope that steps will be taken by the state and Central governments to secure our border and ensure we live in peace,” he said.He said India and Pakistan need to take initiatives for dialogue. “Pakistan cannot expect only India to take initiative. Modi took initiative, he went to Lahore, he went and attended wedding in Nawaz Sharif’s family, what happened afterwards, Pathankot. So, therefore, Pakistan cannot expect only India to take initiative. Pakistan also has to take it, this is a situation where both have to take initiative,” he said.

Azad pays tributes to martyrs

Jammu, November 30

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad strongly condemned the terror strike on the Army base at Nagrota in Jammu on Tuesday.“I pay homage to the brave officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. My heart goes out to their families and I pray that the Almighty gives them strength to bear the irreparable loss,” Azad added. He also urged the Central Government to take concrete steps to prevent such occurrence in future. Azad also expressed deep concern on the increase in frequency of such attacks and firing incidents along the border in the last few months.Meanwhile,NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana also paid tributes to the bravehearts. —TNS