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Kashmir not a commodity to be traded by Pakistan: Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday asserted that his state could not be traded off in return for Pakistani support to the United States in tracking down Osama bin Laden.

"Pakistan is stupid. Neither Kashmir is a commodity for trade-off nor America will fall into the trap of Islamabad," Abdullah said after a 40-minute meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Lauding the role of Centre in fighting terrorism, Abdullah said, "This fight cannot be limited to only one nation but has to be a joint effort of all civilised countries."

"The fight against militancy is not a war, but a sustained effort by all civilised nations to wipe the menace of terrorism from the face of mankind," he said.

Apprehending heightening of militancy in his state if the United States attacked Afghanistan, he said, "This fear is not going to lessen our contribution in eradicating the menace from the world."

He said India had been quick to respond and condemn the barbaric act of terrorists in New York and Washington but added, "We had been highlighting the menace of militancy for the past one decade. When our plane was hijacked and taken to Kandahar (in Southern Afghanistan), no one came forward. We went ahead alone and braved the fundamentalist groups."

"But we will go ahead and extend all help to any such country which resolves to fight militancy and clear the world of such a menace," he said.

About the height of militancy in the state, the chief minister said, "We are already facing this. The militancy is not limited to Kashmir but has spread its tentacles to other parts of the country as well."

Asked about the move by America to involve Pakistan in its fight against militancy and an apparent sidelining of India, Abdullah laughed and said, "This is the way you look at it. Why should not we term this move as a most decent way to tell Islamabad to stop militancy or face isolation?"

"Anyway the move of carrying Pakistan along can also be seen as a lesson to other countries, supporting fundamentalism, to stop," he said

He added, "The fact that US President George Bush thanked the Prime Minister for his help is a slap to the propaganda perpetrated from across the border."

Abdullah lashed out at some Islamic religious 'scholars' from across the border for their threat that they would attack the US interests and said, "This is the time to make the world aware that Islam only preaches love and brotherhood and not terrorism as projected by Islamabad."

Earlier, the chief minister met Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh to discuss the situation arising out of Tuesday's attacks in the US and its possible fallout in the country especially Jammu and Kashmir.

PTI

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