Col J P Singh
Kashmir today is in a pitiable condition. Valley is in a turmoil less seen in the recent past and continues without sign of early reversal. It is no more a law and order problem. It was so, when the violence erupted soon after terrorist Burhan Wani’s gunning down. It is a different story now. To cut the long story short, it is the anger which is sustaining the agitation. The anger is the fall out of violence and counter violence that followed Burhan’s killing. The anger is against the pellet guns. The anger is on the un-professional use of pellet guns which has caused immense injuries, pain and anger to the Kashmiri psyche. Excessive use of pellet guns is seen as frontal attack on Kashmiriyat. Anger is against the presence of security forces and AFSPA. Anger is against the separatists who are exploiting the poor. Current sporadic stone pelting is manifestation of the persisting anger. Valley today is shaken and more alienated than at any time in the past. My common sense tells me that anger is the main problem as of now. Withdrawal of pellet guns and AFSPA and dispute redressal is in the hands of Central Govt which has not yet blinked. Above all it is the feeling of helplessness against the overbearing Indian state that compels youngsters to resort to aggressive and violent means to express their rage. Hence as on today, Delhi holds greater responsibility to assuage the anger. Any workable solution therefore must address the anger first even if this initiative cannot assuage the intense negative sentiment against India altogether. Withdrawal of pellet guns may be a first step in that direction.
What else is responsible for this turmoil. If someone is to be blamed for the unrest, it is the separatists Hurriyat and the radicalized Clergy, at the first place, to have abetted stone pelting and aggression amongst Kashmiri youths. Next to which blame should go to the present Coalition Govt which created a confusion by repeatedly stating that Burhan Wani should have been given a chance since he was simply romanticizing with terror. “It was not known to the Chief Minister. It was an accident”, and words to that effect by political stalwarts further compounded the confusion. This was stated despite a prize on his head. Political opponents, separatists and Pak ISI made the best of it.
Apart from above there are many other reasons why the Kashmir problem has persisted for so long. The first and foremost is Pakistani hand. Entry of fundamentalist Wahabism, expulsion of Pandits, apathy by the Indians to the feelings of Kashmiris, human rights violations and above all the errors of previous Govts are among various other reasons. Even Modi Govt has not handled Kashmir issue with the compassion it was called for. Simply by putting the blame on Pakistan repeatedly amounts to not showing any concern in analyzing the cause and consequences of the mistakes made in the past. BJP-PDP Coalition Govt has failed to handle the fall out of Burhan Wani’s killing in the manner a true representative Govt was expected to do. It too cannot be condoned. This is being loudly talked about these days by Central Congress leaders. NC and Congress who ruled the state jointly for six years before this Govt is all out politicking on Govt failure. From a long term perspective, it is they who hold the greater responsibility for the failure of the Indian State to effect an emotional reconciliation with the people of the Valley. Anger is against them also. This turmoil should not be allowed to linger. Answer lies in bold reconciliation initiative of withdrawing pellet guns to start with. Though difficult to do under the circumstances, yet the only way to assuage the anger, I feel. Political and other processes can follow.
Both Simla and Lahore Agreement lay down that Kashmir should be part of composite bilateral dialogue. It amounts to accepting Kashmir a bilateral issue warranting discussion. But that can happen only under normalcy. The ball therefore is in Pak court. And there is an internal dimension. Separatists, in the past, have been accepted as part of the solution. Sometimes talking Kashmir with Pakistan and other-time with Hurriyat and sometime talking/not talking to both besides other flip-flops over Kashmir have often disillusioned Kashmiris. Hurriyat’s own flip-flop of talking to Delhi and sometimes refusing to talk instead preferring to talk to Pakistan has muddied the waters. (Interestingly Delhi has allowed Hurriyat to talk to Pakistan officials meaning promoting triangular initiative. NDA Govt blocked it and faced violent reactions from Hurriyat). This time Hurriyat engineered unrest is neither spontaneous nor surprising.
Now when the Valley is in deep turmoil, Modi Govt’s Kashmir policy is becoming confrontationist. No talks and no withdrawal of pellet guns is confrontationist. What is the way out for the end of unrest? How long a stalemate can be allowed to go on! Seeing the local administration defunct, Northern Army Commander has given few suggestions. One of them is that all stake holders must step back a little to allow the normalcy to return. In a small step backwards Central Govt can take a bold initiative and withdraw the pellet guns. I am sure separatists and stone pelters will withdraw the agitation to let the political process resume.
In 2003, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Srinagar as the first premier to do so in more than a decade. He spoke of how every solution to the Kashmir dispute ‘within the bounds of humanity’, (insaniyat ke daire me) would be considered. This was a time of hope in Kashmir. What went wrong after that? Was it the return of Congress-led UPA Govt in 2004 which jeopardized Vajpayee initiative. Modi Govt needs to revise its Kashmir policy under Vajpayee formula which Modi has already accepted while stating that Kashmiris enjoy the same Azadi as anyone else in India. That no one can deny, least the Kashmiris. Infact they enjoy and practice more Azadi than others as a result they have succeeded in stalling govt approved Sainik Colony and separate Pandit habitats in the valley. They hardly pay taxes and bills & raise Pakistan and ISIS flags with impunity. Can they do similar things in Pakistan? Kashmiris should take serious note of Modi statement. In any case they are enjoying additional Azadi which the constitution has given them by Article 370. Call for total Azadi is misleading. It means barbadi. Idea of another partition is unconceivable.
By virtue of his electoral mandate and world incessant travel and acceptance, Modi today is in better position to resolve Kashmir dispute. He should tell Kashmiris truthfully what can be given and what cannot be given. Hence withdrawing pellet guns, engaging Kashmiris, in however unspectacular manner it may, will be construed as Modi’s seriousness on the Kashmir issue. The anger will melt away and confidence building will commence once people sit across the table. With lot of political activities taking place after completion of Amarnath Yatra, it is the right time for the Central Govt to initiate the peace process in the valley. Opportunity to win hearts and minds of Kashmiri youths and building emotional bridges with Kashmiri must be grabbed soon. Wisdom lies in dousing the fire timely lest the opposing winds flare the flames.
Dialogue with Pakistan over POJK will take time because Nawaz Sharif has gone hawkish on India and is resurrecting Kashmir as the core of his survival. His doing so has awakened a sleeping giant India. Being cornered by Indian leaders over its atrocities in POJK & Baluchistan and SAARC leaders over terrorism and human rights violations in Baluchistan, FATA and POJK, Nawaz Sharif is bound to revisit his Kashmir policy. Inviting Foreign Secretary to Islamabad is a pointer in that direction. Internal dimension of Kashmir issue should be addressed in the meantime.
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