Anil Anand
The characters in ‘theatre Kashmir’ are never short of springing surprises. This is a common denominator that binds the politicians of all hues-mainline are separatists. There never is a dull moment in Kashmir rather Jammu and Kashmir as leaders continue to try varied histrionics and formulas to keep their political relevance alive. Separatism, religion and region become the key ingredients of these formulas.
Thereek-e-Hurriyat chief and the senior most separatist leader of Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani is supposed to have dropped a letter bomb. This is the latest in line of surprises that was juxtaposed with National Conference chief patron Dr Farooq Abdullah applying for a subsidised LPG gas cylinder in defiance of Prime Minister Mr Narendr Modi’s appeal to the contrary.
Mr Geelani has been consistent and steadfast in his preference for Pakistan but for a brief interregnum in the recent past when he rejected the Pakistan High Commission invitation to attend an Iftar in New Delhi. The obvious objection was to omission of Kashmir factor during the Ufa interaction between Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan.
The Hurriyat hawk must be feeling emboldened by the turn of events after the Uffa talks with Pakistan losing no time to undo the gains of the mini summit, whatever little was achieved. The first casualty was the suspension of National Security Advisor level talks in a dramatic manner and a question mark on all subsequent bilateral interactions at various levels.
Under these circumstances the “confidential” letter delivered by his three close confidants, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah and Altaf Ahmed to Pakistan High Commissioner Mr Abdul Basit does have some element of drama. Nothing can be or should be done behind the closed doors if one has to keep his or her relevance intact in the context of Kashmir and related issues. The octogenarian ailing Hurriyat leader was doing nothing different when he made a spectacle of getting his letter delivered to the Pakistan authorities in New Delhi. Otherwise in this high-tech era there are many ways to get the letter or message delivered without brandishing the envelop before the TV cameras.
Kashmiri leaders particularly Mr Geelani have come on to acquire proficiency in the art of diplomacy. And there is no better opportunity to pursue this art when one is down if not out. The Kashmiri separatists belonging to the Hurriyat factions had lost their relevance and desperately looking for an opening to bounce back. The total mishandling of the NSA level talks’ preparations provided them with the much needed opportunity. There is no denying the fact that Pakistan Army and the ISI played a big role in creating this opportunity after Prime Minister Mr Nawaz Sharief who is fighting for his existence, seemingly caved in. But the Indian dispensation also has its share of blame.
One does not know whether ever the contents of the “confidential” letter would be known. It is also not known if the contents are only meant for the consumption of Mr Sharief to whom it is addressed. After all Mr Geelani has direct channels operating with his hawkish counterparts in Pakistan, army and the ISI.
The confidentiality clause has made it an interesting story. It has aroused the curiosity of at least the media which must be one of the strong reasons for Mr Geelani to despatch his close aides to New Delhi and deliver the letter in full media glare. This end has certainly been achieved and he is back in headlines.
Does this letter contain a clue for Mr Sharief on how to start peace efforts with Indian on a firm footing after he presided over the Uffa debacle? Or is it meant to convey a secret on how to abet the separatist movement further? Given Mr Geelani’s experience both as a Constitutionally elected legislator and as a separatist the octogenarian leader has the qualification, if not the mass following, to mull on either of the aspects.
The moot point is why has he chosen Pakistan Prime Minister as the addressee of his letter and whether he will like to share its contents with his other friends in the Pakistani dispensation directly or through Mr Sharief. As of now it is a case between Mr Geelani and the Pak PM until any of them decides to share the contents at other levels.
There could be a flip-side to Mr Geelani’s letter bomb drama as well. All Kashmir watchers full well know that he does not act in isolation on issues related to Kashmir and indirectly to Pakistan. It will be interesting to know as to how and where did this idea of sending a “confidential” letter to Pak Prime Minister germinate.
Mr Geelani fully well knows the contours of Pakistan’s ruling dispensation as he has been dealing with them over the decades. It is understandable that he has sought to raise the level of his discourse by choosing to address the letter to the Prime Minister and not anyone down below even while fully realising the vulnerability of Mr Sharief under prevailing circumstances.
If the letter is really meant to deliver confidential strategic tips to Mr Sharief then it will also be interesting to observe the reaction of all those including Pakistan army and ISI who backseat driven the country’s successive elected governments.
Well these are the probabilities related to the “confidential” letter. But one thing is sure that it certainly is not going to create a storm unless Mr Geelani has chosen to change his stance dramatically. The internal security situation with respect to social restiveness in Kashmir Valley is a worrying factor which he might have tried, through his confidential letter, to exploit to his use.
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