Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed “grave concern” over the escalation of the situation along the borders in Jammu & Kashmir saying the confrontation could lead to a disaster of epic proportions if urgent steps were not taken to bring down the heightened tensions in the region.

“New Delhi and Islamabad must open the channels of communication realising the dangerous consequences of any escalation of ongoing confrontation along the borders,” Mehbooba said.

“We in J&K have suffered immensely because of the violence and know very well its dangers and consequences,” she while urging India and Pakistan to de-escalate the war-like situation in the region.

“For the people of J&K peace along the borders and within the mainland is of immense significance and I hope the political leadership of the two countries would also treat it with the same spirit,” she said.

Mehbooba said like siblings locked in an endless rivalry, India and Pakistan have bickered for well over six decades and transforming that rivalry into a mature, productive relationship will be difficult. “But the consequences of continued animosity will be much worse,” she said and added that the necessity of dialogue has assumed more significance in the post-nuclear phase.

Former Chief Minister and Opposition National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah also expressed concern over the alarming situation along the loC. “We hope cooler heads will prevail and the ceasefire of 2003 will be upheld. Our thoughts are with people living along the loC and the International Border as it is them who suffer the most in times of such escalation”, Abdullah said.

He said both India and Pakistan should exercise restraint and open all channels of communications to de-escalate the situation. “Confrontation and hostility between New Delhi and Islamabad have not yielded favourable results for either country in the past and all outstanding issues and concerns should be discussed with sincerity and the overarching common goal of achieving peace, stability and cooperation in the region”, Abdullah said.

The State Congress in its reaction said that war cannot be solution to any problem as everything issue can be settled through peace and reconciliation process. The Congress blamed both Central and State Governments for the current unrest and expressed anguish over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir.