Srinagar, Feb. 27 -- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said peace is crucial to development, asserting that places in the Union territory that were once synonymous with conflict, are now beacons of harmony.

"Development requires the oxygen of peace. My government's primary objective is to provide you with a transparent, democratic, and stable environment," the chief minister said, addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir here.

The chief minister, who is also the pro-chancellor of the University of Kashmir, today said that for a long time, Jammu & Kashmir's economy was viewed through a narrow lens, but the J&K of 2026 is emerging as a "hub for innovation and participatory governance".

According to an official ...