Pakistan Will Not Fight a War for Kashmir, Says Qamar Cheema on Farooq Abdullah’s Remarks

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s recent remarks about Pakistan have sparked a political debate in India. The comments have also drawn attention in Pakistan, where political commentator Qamar Cheema has shared his views on the issue.

According to Cheema, Pakistan is unlikely to go to war with India over Kashmir. Instead, he believes Islamabad will continue to raise the issue at international forums and rely on diplomacy and dialogue to put forward its position.

What did Farooq Abdullah say?

On October 24, Farooq Abdullah addressed a National Conference workers’ meeting in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. During the event, he referred to Pakistan’s continued efforts to raise the Kashmir issue on international platforms, saying these efforts help bring the concerns of Kashmiris to the world’s attention.

Abdullah also questioned the Centre’s intentions and said people in Jammu and Kashmir needed to raise their voices to protect their rights and identity.

His remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which criticised his comments and accused him of taking a position favourable to Pakistan. The controversy has since become part of a wider political debate.

What did Qamar Cheema say?

Cheema pointed out that Abdullah is a senior political leader who has served as Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister three times. In his view, Abdullah’s remarks should not automatically be interpreted as an act of rebellion against India. He suggested that the comments could also be an attempt to put political pressure on the central government.

Cheema also suggested that Abdullah could face a legal case or other legal action over his remarks. However, this was Cheema’s assessment, not confirmation that any such action had been initiated.

Will Pakistan fight a war for Kashmir?

Cheema’s assessment is that Pakistan will continue to raise the Kashmir issue through international forums, the United Nations and diplomatic channels rather than resorting to military action.

It is important to distinguish his analysis from an official position. No official Pakistani response to Farooq Abdullah’s remarks has been cited here, and Cheema’s comments should not be treated as a formal statement of government policy.

The Kashmir dispute has remained a major source of tension between India and Pakistan since Partition in 1947. Both countries have fought wars and experienced repeated periods of military tension, making statements about the possibility of another conflict politically sensitive.

What happens next?

Farooq Abdullah’s comments have prompted criticism from BJP leaders and reactions from other political figures. However, the Indian government has not issued a detailed official response to the specific controversy in the information available for this report.

For now, the debate centres on two questions: what Abdullah intended to convey through his remarks, and how Pakistan plans to pursue the Kashmir issue. Cheema has offered his interpretation, but Pakistan’s official position on this specific controversy remains unclear.