J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president and legislator Tariq Hameed Karra said on Monday (May 18, 2026) that dialogue and not war is the solution to India and Pakistan’s conflict prone relationship.

Referring to a recent statement by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in which he advocated talks with Pakistan, Mr. Karra said, “War does not help J&K. Kashmir becomes a battleground whenever India and Pakistan battle. War is not a solution. The last step of the war is dialogue, evident from the recent war between the U.S. and Iran.”

He questioned the BJP’s stand on Mr. Hosabale’s remarks. “If a Congress leader had made such a statement, he would have been targeted for being pro-Pakistan, pushing for a ceasefire with an adversary and advocating dialogue in spite of ongoing militancy etc. During Operation Sindoor, the Congress offered its full support to the Centre,” said Mr. Karra. 

He said the BJP narrative of war with Pakistan and Hindu-Muslim conflict stems from the fact that it “lacked focus on pressing issues like inflation, and unemployment”.

The Congress leader reiterated the party stand on restoration of full Statehood to J&K. “After the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and 35A, the rights to water, jobs, and admissions were snatched from locals. BJP divided J&K into two Union Territories. In light of these developments, the Congress has been campaigning for the restoration of Statehood under the Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq (Our Statehood, Our right) initiative,” said Mr. Karra.

He said the Congress would like to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that a promise to restore Statehood to J&K was made inside and outside Parliament.