Shopian, July 2 -- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday backed the call for a dialogue between India and Pakistan to improve bilateral relations, asserting that there should be no objection to advocating better ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking to reporters here, Omar acknowledged the tensions between the two countries, which have persisted for decades and intensified further after last year's Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 individuals lost their lives.

He questioned why similar remarks by leaders from Jammu and Kashmir invite criticism, while statements favouring dialogue by senior RSS leaders do not.

"This tension (between India and Pakistan) has persisted for the last 30 to 40 years. It...