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Peace process in J&K Sir, Military action is necessary to tackle the militancy, insurgencies upto some point. But the final solution must come from political side. In the past, insurgencies have been tackled successfully as result of political action. Since the militancy in J&K is completely political one and hence political action is to be required to tackle a decade old militancy in the State. The people of the State are fortunate enough that Union Govt. and other political fronts are keen to solve this decade old militancy through political process. In this process, the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee made his first initiative when in Feb, 1999 he undertook historic Lahore bus journey to meet the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Release of many Senior Hurriyat leaders from the Indian jail was another significant step to boost the peace process in J&K. Now the unilateral ceasefire announced by Mr. Vajpayee in the holy month of Ramzan, no doubt, is a bold and milestone initiative to further enhance the peace process in the turmoil State and thereby sent a clear signal to the world community, Pakistan, militants outfits and the people of Kashmir that India remained keen to create the climate conducive for setting a serious peace process in motion. The response of the world power towards cease-fire has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The Kashmiri leadership in India and abroad has also welcomed the peace initiative. Although by announcing ceasefire Mr. Vajpayee has decisively pushed the ball into the Pakistan court. But the political process does not come to halt by just pushing the ball into the Pakistan court. The very first thing which CM Farooq Abdullah has to do is to accept his own responsibility for the present turmoil in the State. It was sheer lust for power that brought about electoral alliance between the National Conference & Congress party in the mid 80s. The large scale rigging of the elections that followed and the consequent defrauding the people crystallised eventually into the insurgency in the State. The CM should stop giving contradictory statements. Earlier he criticised Army Chief for saying that Kashmir was political problem and not a military problem. But now he supports ceasefire and terms it a political problem which is required to be solved through political process. The Hurriyat Conference which is an umbrella organisation and have different views on the Kashmir issue. It is the moral duty of Hurriyat Conference to take the opportunity to distance itself from the foreign mercenaries who have been using the slogan of 'Jehad' to mint money for themselves at the cost of the Kashmir. In Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen in the predominant militant group who now thinks foreign militants are hindrance in the peaceful existence in their homeland. At the insistence of these foreign mercenaries Hizbul Mujahideen announced ceasefire in July to make Pakistan as part and parcel of the Kashmir issue. But when it didnot happened and the foreign mercenaries sabotaged the Hizbal attempt to return to the national mainstream through series of massacres in the Valley. Thus militants operating in the Valley should reciprocate to the ceasefire and come to the negotiating table. On the other hand, Hurriyat leadership required to take the opportunity and come to the negotiating table rather than stressing Pak to be involved in the dialogue. On thing is clear since the Kashmir is with Kashmiris and the dispute cannot be solved without Kashmiris in the political dialogue. Hence the time has come when Hurriyat leadership and Kashmiri leadership is required to come to the negotiating table for a peaceful solution to the decade old militancy, in the State and the Kashmir issue. Yours etc... |
