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HomeOpinionPakistan’s mischief goes on in Kashmir, irrespective of whether Congress, PDP or...

Pakistan’s mischief goes on in Kashmir, irrespective of whether Congress, PDP or BJP runs govt

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There are no quick-fix solutions to the Kashmir problem. Policies that would work over a period of 5 years or so: foolproof security, fair and just governance.

The Kashmir issue and the present situation in the state poses one of the greatest challenges to the Indian state.

Pakistan is getting closer by the day to China, which itself is a party to the dispute. Pakistan is also a non-NATO ally of the USA, irrespective of occasional warnings by the latter to control terrorist groups. Russia is getting closer to Pakistan for its own reasons. As such, Pakistan does not seem constrained to change its long-term policy of fighting a proxy war against India through a clutch of terrorist groups. In fact, it has intensified launching suicide squads against our military, paramilitary and police installations, resorting to firing across LOC on a daily basis.

If this country needs one national policy, endorsed by all political parties, it is on Kashmir. However, there is neither such a policy nor any attempt being made to evolve a national consensus. The objective of Pakistan is to keep Kashmir on the boil, and inflict “a thousand cuts” on the Indian nation.

The simple fact is that J&K has legally and validly acceded to India. But when the UN imposed the ceasefire, Pakistan was in occupation of about 40 per cent of the erstwhile state and still continues to be in possession of the same. It managed to silence any opposition to its occupation, by quickly and quietly changing the entire demographic profile of the occupied area by inducting non-Kashmiris from other areas of Pakistan, and by imposing draconian provisions that all aspirants to elected positions or civil service must take an oath not to question Kashmir being a part of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s mischief goes on in the Valley, irrespective of whether the government in the state is run by the Congress, NCP, PDP, or a coalition with BJP as it happens now. Similarly, it makes no difference to Pakistan, whether there is a Congress-led or BJP-led government in Delhi. The targeted terrorist attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in the mid-1990s that drove the entire Pandit population out of the Valley happened under the Congress watch. The worst record of militancy was during 1991-1995, also under the Congress watch. Thus, the claims of Congress and BJP that their government managed Kashmir issue better, is futile.

What are the reasons for this failure of successive governments to bring peace in the state? What are the various solutions that political parties followed or think tanks suggested?

Here are some:

1) Have a dialogue with various political parties in the state. This is redundant because political parties are represented in the assembly, and they can formulate workable proposals.

2) Have a sustained dialogue with various factions of Hurriyat, and groups like JKLF, which as a policy do not contest elections. Hurriyat and these political groups are essentially proxies or mouthpieces of Pakistan, and hence have no independent opinions of their own.

3) Have a sustained dialogue with Pakistan. I think this is a futile exercise. What does one discuss with Pakistan? Ask them politely to vacate the 40 per cent area illegally occupied by them? Or plead with them not to infiltrate terrorists, or stop cross-border firing or give up the proxy war? Would Pakistan oblige our requests when it is their state policy to wage a proxy war?

4) Have a people-to-people dialogue, start a bus service across the border, have a Samjhauta Express. As long as Pak army is in the driver’s seat, these measures would not make any difference, and are only cosmetic.

5) Have confidence-building measures? Question is building whose confidence? The real answer is, build the confidence of the Kashmiri people in the fairness of their government. This is very important, and I would revert to it later.

6) Restore real autonomy to the state of J&K. This is the main demand of the National Conference, which has been demanding a return to the position that prevailed in 1953. While there is a case for restoring some autonomy, the question is even if the demand of NC is fully accepted, would it make Pakistan stop its mischief?

7) Have free borders, common currency, joint management for both sides of Kashmir. I think this would only worsen the situation, giving further freedom to Pakistan to create more mischief.

8) Give regional autonomy to Jammu area, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. While this is desirable, I do not think this would in any way solve the main problem with Pakistan.

9) Persuade Pandits to go back to the Valley. Pandits had a harrowing and traumatic experience and lost everything in the Valley, and it would be almost impossible for them to go back.

10) Delete Article 370 of the Constitution, and Section 35 of the Constitution of J&K state. In my judgment, these steps would be counter-productive.

The point is that whatever internal measures we take, it would make no difference to Pakistan, which would continue to carry on its agenda, as usual. The above steps also would not create any great impact on the Kashmiri citizens to oppose the propaganda, and overtures of Pakistan.

There are no quick-fix solutions to the Kashmir problem. The policies that would work over a period of five years or so: foolproof security, and fair and just governance. The first component should enforce zero-tolerance to any violation of the LOC and to violence in the state. All our energies and resources must be devoted and focused on achieving this.

The army, paramilitary forces and police should be given a free hand in achieving this, at the same time insisting that they are fully answerable to the elected government for any violations of human rights etc. This is a difficult and finely balanced exercise, but it needs to be adhered to. This can be achieved by reconstituting and refining the tasks of the Unified Command. There needs to be no fear that a strong response to terrorism and violence may drive more Muslims in India to radicalise, because Indian Muslims, except for a few misguided youth, are as patriotic as anyone else. Fear of escalation should not deter us from protecting our sovereignty at all costs.

As far as the governance component is concerned, the governments in J& K are perceived by many to be one of the most corrupt, especially in terms of nepotism and favouritism in recruitment, employment, transfers, postings, provision of government services etc. No number of financial packages would help the common people, since most of the money goes to the favoured few. I am not talking of the present government, but about all administrations in the last two decades. If Kashmiri youth had to be weaned from terrorism and the mischievous propaganda of Pakistan, they must believe that their government is elected fairly, and is imbued with fairness and justice in its functioning.

The procedures for jobs, and for availing government services must be open and transparent, and there have to be easily accessible, reliable and effective redressal grievance mechanisms.

This was the strategy broadly followed during 1995-early 1999 when the country controlled militancy, restored a collapsed civil administration, and conducted two elections.

K. Padmanabhaiah is the former home secretary in the Indian government.

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