Former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday questioned the Centre’s silence on Kashmir, saying Pakistan’s efforts to keep the issue alive internationally could be crucial to the region’s future.

“Yeh aaj chup hain kyon ki duniya mein shour hai aur hamara padosi laga huwa hai, woh har jagah puhunchta hai ki Kashmir ka faisla nahin hua hai. Woh hamein bachayega (They are silent today because there is noise in the world, and our neighbour, Pakistan, is actively raising the issue. It goes everywhere, saying that Kashmir’s future has not yet been decided. Only that will save us). Otherwise, their intentions are not good. They say one thing and do the opposite.”

At the convention, attended by several party leaders, Abdullah urged people to stand up for their rights. “What do we expect from Delhi? Will you expect them to deliver justice to you?” he asked. “Stay strong and dare to fight. If you don’t, you will cease to exist. Stay powerful and stick to the truth.…