Farooq Abdullah Triggers Massive Row With Operation Sindoor Remark

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah triggered fresh controversy on Sunday after making two sharply debated remarks in a single day, one linked to the recently busted “white-collar” terror module involving doctors in Haryana, and the other referring to Operation Sindoor. Abdullah, who heads the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), questioned why the arrested doctors had “taken this path” and demanded a deeper probe into the circumstances behind their radicalisation. He also warned against the possibility of another Operation Sindoor-type escalation, urging India and Pakistan to improve relations instead of sliding into conflict.

Speaking on the arrest of the so-called “white-collar terrorists”, Abdullah said the focus should not only be on the arrests but also on understanding why highly educated professionals had chosen such a path.

“Ask those who are responsible, why did these doctors have to take this path? What was the reason? There is a need for a thorough investigation and study of this,” he said, calling for a deeper enquiry into the circumstances that led to their involvement.

#WATCH | Srinagar | On the Nowgam police station blast incident, JKNC Chief Farooq Abdullah says, “This is our mistake, those who understand this explosive better, we should have talked to them first about how to deal with it instead of trying to handle it ourselves, you saw the… pic.twitter.com/SNXFVf5TBK

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2025

Abdullah then linked the development to broader regional tensions, expressing concern that the fallout from the module’s exposure could lead to another Operation Sindoor-like situation.

“I hope no such thing [Operation Sindoor] will happen. Nothing came out of it. Eighteen of our people died. Our borders were compromised. I hope both nations improve their relations. That is the only way. I want to repeat what Vajpayee Ji said that friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot be changed,” he remarked.

#WATCH | Srinagar | JKNC Chief Farooq Abdullah says, “I hope no such thing (Operation Sindoor) will happen. Nothing came out of it (Operation Sindoor). Our 18 people died. Our borders were compromised. I hope both nations improve their relations. That is the only way. I want to… pic.twitter.com/14akB04Op1

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2025

Operation Sindoor remains sensitive in public memory, particularly because the Kargil conflict is widely regarded as a moment when Pakistan betrayed the peace efforts initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.