JAMMU, Feb 9: The chief minister of occupied Kashmir took issue with Indian prime minister, arguing that formally splitting Kashmir with Pakistan was the only viable solution to the bloody dispute over the divided region.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said the UN-monitored Line of Control dividing Indian and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir should be turned into the accepted international border. “I see only one solution — that part is Pakistan and this is India,” he told reporters.

Prime Minister Vajpayee said on Sunday that India would never accept the LoC as an international border because the entire Kashmir region was Indian territory. But Abdullah said it was time to face up to reality.

“Everyone has their own stand but my stand is clear on this issue. We are India, they are Pakistan. We cannot take that part of Kashmir,” Abdullah said.

He added that during the two wars India and Pakistan have fought over Kashmir since their independence from British rule, India never tried to occupy Azad Kashmir.—AFP