Omkar Dattatray
The cunning tactics of British rulers and the pro-Muslim fervor of late Jinnah had led to the unfortunate and sad division of the country much against the wishes of the Congress. Ever since 1947 India and Pakistan had been at logger heads with each other, there has been bitterness, discord, rivalry and animosity between these countries and it continues even today. The ceasefire violations are taking places and consuming precious lives of our men and security jawans. There seems to be less chances of this enmity between them to be reduced if the main problem and the bone of discord be not solved in the interest of people of the neighboring countries. Kashmir has all along been a dispute between India and Pakistan. It is a festering wound. The problem of Kashmir is squarely due to the short sightedness of Pt. Nehru- the first Prime Minister of free India who had taken the initiative of taking this issue to UNO. Enormous loss of men, money, material and prestige to both the nations is caused due to this controversial issue. Pakistan had forced three wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971 and Kargil incursion in 1999 on us just for annexing the Kashmir but every time it faced a humiliating defeat. From the last three decades Pakistan has been at a proxy war with India to achieve its nefarious design of grabbing Kashmir. Pakistan had engineered and is actively supporting terrorism in the name of so called Jihad in J&K. Much human blood has been spilled during these 30 years of militancy. It is high time that both the countries should make self introspection and analysis as to what they have gained from the bitterness and enmity of last 70 years. Except death, mayhem and economic devastation nothing has come out of the perpetual animosity. Not that efforts were not made to settle the dispute but efforts did not bear fruit due to the impracticality of the solution sought and also due to casual approach to the issue by both sides. Indian and Pakistani Governments should not allow their reason and logic to be clouded anymore by passions and sentimentalities but they should desist from exploiting the emotions of their respective people. Both the countries should stop nursing false hopes and expectations. They should recognize the practical realities. Without loss of further time they should come to the negotiating table to find an amicable solution of the vexed problem. Thus sincere efforts should be made by both the counties to solve the problem once for all to the reasonable satisfaction of both the parties. Outmoded and outdated proposals have no significance now and they should not be parroted but instead a realistic, logical and practical solution should be sought for resolving this ticklish issue. Self determination of kashmiris and plebiscite as well as liberation of Pak occupied Kashmir are all impractical, illusory and utopian and thus need not to be pursued as they will do no good to either India or Pakistan nor their masses. The fact remains that neither India nor Pakistan will surrender an inch of their land to either which is in their possession. In such a situation such solutions and such tactics and pressure mechanism which hints at others land will not solve the problem but will only complicate matters. Thus it is in the interest of people of both the countries to shun the path of violence and come to peace terms. Self determination, support for azadi of kashmiris and Indian resolution of vacating possession by Pakistan on POK are only political stunts and pressure tactics and the vote catching devices in Pakistan and India. These slogans and proposals are used to divert the attention of the people in these countries from burning issues which require attention of the government. They are the catch words to keep Kashmir pot boiling and thus sticking to power. No guns but reconciliation and dialogue are the sure means of resolving issues in the modern civilized societies and our sub continent is no exception to it. India from day one of the partition has exercised maximum restraint and every time has offered to talk with Pakistan but that country has never reciprocated in positive and sincere way to our offer of goodwill and friendship.
Pakistan had floated and disobeyed the Shimla agreement, Delhi declaration and Lahore peace process and all the conventions of international standing. In 2003, Vajapaye’s peace initiative in the form of ceasefire against militants and at the borders had opened the eyes of estranged ones and the world community as well. World powers have also welcomed the peace initiative of India and have asked Pakistan to respond favorably. In the face of world pressure, Pakistan had also to an extent responded and reciprocated favorably to the ceasefire initiative and thus have they asked Pakistani rangers to exercise maximum restraint along the LoC. This was a welcome development. It only will not do. Pakistan should not send terrorists to Kashmir and should ask militants to shun the path of destruction and violence and come to the negotiating table for ending militancy which has consumed the scare resources in both the countries. Hurriyat Conference and other political outfits of Kashmir had also favored the peace initiative of Vajpayee. Thus the talks should be held with the estranged ones in Kashmir and with APHC.
This should be followed by a purposeful, meaningful and political dialogue with Pakistani rulers to end the ticklish issue. India has moved a step forward and now it is Pakistani turn to come forward so that talks can be held. Neither India nor Pakistan will allow their political maps to be altered. Thus azadi for Kashmir and vacation of PoK are untenable and illusory proposals. The only viable and practical solution lies in rational approach of converting the line of actual control into the permanent international border. This is the only feasible and desirable solution for solving the dispute in Kashmir. In this practical solution there are no gainers or losers in both the countries. So all possibilities should be worked out for this pragmatic solution of Kashmir impasse in which lies the good of both the countries and the people of the two countries. Thus negotiations between the two countries should be held around this practical end in view, otherwise the people of these unfortunate nations will continue to be killed and their economies badly affected with rising defense budgets.
Earlier CM of the troubled state had seen the reason and thus has rightly suggested the conversion of LoC into international border. Dr. Farooq Abdullah has rightly said any viable solution of the Kashmir problem should revolve round the conversion of LoC into permanent border. The NC supremo Farooq Abdullah has again advocated the proposal of conversion of LoC into international border and he is the strong votary of this proposal. So both India and Pakistan should work with sincerity and open heart in this direction to put an end to hostility of 70 years and thus should live like brothers as had been the progeny of grand Ganga Jammni tahazeeb.
(The views of the author are personal)
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