'Nothing came out of it': Farooq Abdullah triggers row with remarks on Operation Sindoor

Abdullah, who heads the JKNC and is the father of current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, questioned why the doctors involved in the Haryana module “took this path” and said the circumstances needed to be examined.

“Ask those who are responsible, why did these doctors have to take this path? What was the reason? There is a need for a thorough investigation and study of this,” he said.

He went on to express concern about the fallout of the terror bust, saying he hoped another Operation Sindoor would not occur.

“I hope no such thing will happen. Nothing came out of it. Eighteen of our people died. Our borders were compromised. I hope both nations improve their relations. That is the only way. I want to repeat what Vajpayee ji said — friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot.”

Abdullah’s remarks come amid a widely held assessment that Pakistan betrayed former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by triggering the Kargil conflict despite peace overtures.

The former Chief Minister also criticised authorities over the blast at a Srinagar police station that killed nine people on Friday night. Calling it a “mistake,” he said explosive material should have been handled by trained personnel.

“You saw the result — nine people lost their lives. So much damage was caused to houses there,” he said, adding that Kashmiris were again facing suspicion nationwide.

“When will that day come when they accept that we are Indians and we are not responsible for this?” he asked.

His remarks prompted a sharp response from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tarun Chugh, who accused Abdullah of being soft on terrorists.

“Shedding tears for terrorists is their old habit. Farooq Abdullah should stop speaking for terrorists now,” Chugh said.

The Srinagar police station blast occurred while personnel were checking explosive material seized from the terror module in Haryana.

This came days after the Delhi explosion on Monday evening, when a white Hyundai i20 blew up in a parking area near the Red Fort, injuring 20 people and damaging several vehicles.

The blast occurred just hours after eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized in the unravelling of a “white-collar” terror network linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, stretching across Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.