SRINAGAR – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today, February 6, 2026, questioning Islamabad’s ability to govern its own territory.
The jab follows Sharif’s “Kashmir Solidarity Day” speech in PoK, where he claimed Kashmir would “someday become part of Pakistan.”
The Verbal Duel
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Omar’s Response: When asked about Sharif’s comments, Abdullah quipped, “We will be part of them? They can’t handle what they already have. What will they do with us?”
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Sharif’s Claim: Speaking in the Assembly of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Pak PM invoked Jinnah’s “jugular vein” quote, asserting that Kashmir is central to Pakistan’s identity.
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India’s Stance: The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of India, while Home Minister Amit Shah has previously vowed to reclaim PoK.
Update on Indus Water Treaty (IWT)
Beyond the political rhetoric, the Chief Minister addressed the ongoing abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty and its impact on the region’s energy security:
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Current Projects: Abdullah clarified that ongoing projects like Ratle and Pakal Dul won’t see immediate changes in design or power generation capacity.
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Future Potential: He noted that future projects could benefit from fewer restrictions. Specifically, the Tulbul Navigation Barrage could help save Wular Lake and boost power generation at the Uri 1 and Uri 2 downstream plants.
