China using Pakistan against India, says Farooq

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Jammu,

May 26, 2002

(Press Trust of India) --

Cautioning that no country in the world would like to see India strong, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday asked the countrymen to contribute their mite in strengthening the nation.

"Today the people must not ask what government can do for them, but ask what they can do for the country," Abdullah said at a function in connection with brigadier Rajinder Singh memorial lecture, organised by the Centre for National Security and Regional Studies in Jammu.

Referring to China, he said it has been using Pakistan "against us while it continues to talk about friendly relations with India. But, it is irony that our government has not extended any support to Dalai Lama nor did we make any protest when Tibet was taken over by China".

Many countries in the world would like India to be a weak nation so that they could decide for the country, he said, adding this, "It is imperative for us to tighten our belts to face the challenges posed to the country".

"But time has come that it is not Army, para-military force or navy to defend, but each individual has to defend this nation," he said.