Omar Abdullah Voices Alarm Over Attack on Iranian Naval Vessel

Jammu, Mar 5: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed concern over the reported sinking of an Iranian warship, which was returning from the Milan naval exercise hosted by India. The vessel and its crew had participated in the multilateral exercise as guests of India.

Addressing the media in Jammu, Abdullah described the incident as “unfortunate” and acknowledged the anxiety it has caused in the Union Territory, where many residents, including students, are currently in Iran. “They were our guests and had come here for a naval exercise. While returning, it was attacked. In some way, our country is also being dragged into this situation. What will happen in the future is beyond my jurisdiction,” he said.

The Chief Minister confirmed that the J&K administration is coordinating with the Centre to ensure the safety of its residents in Iran and is working on a programme to bring them back safely. He also appealed for calm across the region amid the escalating tensions. Abdullah emphasized that groups attempting to exploit the situation should not be allowed to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from the Iran incident, Abdullah commented on other political developments, describing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Rajya Sabha nomination as an internal matter of Bihar and extending his best wishes. On Nepal’s ongoing general elections, Abdullah highlighted the importance of democratic processes and expressed interest in the decision of the Nepali electorate.

Highlighting domestic priorities, Abdullah spoke about the government’s push to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture. He noted that flagship programmes such as Mission Yuva are helping to develop a startup culture, with substantial funding already flowing into educational institutions for these initiatives.