Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today advocated resumption of dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists to resolve political issues facing the state.
"Jammu and Kashmir is a political problem and can be resolved only through a process of dialogue. We have to start the dialogue process both internally as well as bilaterally (with Pakistan) for addressing this issue," Omar said in his Independence Day speech at Bakshi stadium here.
The Chief Minister said there were some sections of people who maintain that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal problem and there is external dimension to it.
"If it were an internal matter, then Shimla, Lahore and Agra talks would not have happened," he said, underlining the importance of involving Pakistan in talks for resolving the issue.
He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif should take steps for earning each others' confidence to carry forward the dialogue process between the two countries.
He also expressed concern over the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan saying such incidents were not good for the dialogue process.
"When the two leaders (Singh and Sharif) are meeting on the sidelines of the UN summit, you (Pakistan National Assembly) pass a resolution and force us to pass a resolution (too)," he said.
