Pakistan should act responsibly on maintaining ceasefire: Omar Abdullah

Maintaining that peace along the borders is in interest of both India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today asked Islamabad to act responsibly to ensure that there is no violation of ceasefire.

"While we are taking every care from our side not to indulge in violation of ceasefire, Pakistan should also act responsibly in this regard and help maintain truce along the borders," Abdullah said while interacting with locals and BSF personnel along the Indo-Pak border in RS Pura sector of Jammu district.

The chief minister said that violation of ceasefire creates a number of difficulties for the people residing in border areas on both sides and results in loss of lives and damage to property.

"Peace along the borders is in mutual interest of the two neighbours," he said and called for positive and visible response from the other side of the border in this regard.

"We are always for better Indo-Pak relations and have taken many initiatives to this effect," he said.

Asserting that good relations between India and Pakistan were key to peace and development in the region, Abdullah said, "Friends can be changed but not the neighbours".

He along with divisional commissioner of Jammu and inspector general of BSF visited many villages and interacted with people to know about the difficulties they are facing.

"If there is peace along the borders, farmers can take part in agricultural activities and carry on their normal process of living," he said, adding that friendly ties between the two neighbours is the need of hour.

Abdullah said that the government has worked out an arrangement with the BSF for providing rent for the land used by the force for fencing till the time it is properly acquired.

"Papers for acquiring the land are being finalised and divisional commissioner of Jammu is on the job", he said, adding that the land owners would get compensation for the land when it is acquired by the BSF.

The chief minister lauded the services of jawans in protecting the borders. "Your valuable duty during severe winters and summers is commendable and we are aware of your sacrifices for safeguarding the borders," he told the jawans and assured them all facilities from the state.