India, Pakistan are not at the brink of war: Omar

“I don’t believe we are,” Abdullah said when asked whether India and Pakistan are at the brink of war. “I am not one of those who sees imminent war looming in the sub-continent. I’d like to believe that both governments in New Delhi and Islamabad are a lot more careful about the prospect of war than perhaps some of our TV channels would like them to be,” he said at a conference titled ‘India and Pakistan: A Subcontinental Affair’ organised by the students of New York University here on Friday. 

Pakistan’s former President Pervez Musharraf was also scheduled to speak at the conference but he cancelled his appearance at the last minute citing ‘security concerns’. There were several moments of animated discussions, some heated arguments and loud cheers during Abdullah’s nearly hour-long discussion with the gathering, that included students from both India and Pakistan, on Kashmir, the surgical strikes by India, killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, tensions with Pakistan, plight of Kashmiri Pandits and Article 370.

Abdullah said while there is  tension along the LoC and the ceasefire is ‘under a bit more pressure’ than it was at the same time last year, India and Pakistan are not at the brink of war.