The meeting called by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to discuss Kashmir with the separatist elements looks to be a non starter. The Huriyat conference has decided that it will not participate in the meeting. This is a setback for those who think that the situation in Kashmir has changed enough for at least a dialogue to commence. Neither the hardliners, backed by Gillani, nor the moderates under the Mirwaiz, have come forward for the proposed talks.
The Prime Minister had offered a broad range within which talks could take place. These included discussion on some form of self governance for the state. Earlier they were allowed to travel to Pakistan to meet with that country’s leadership and make the atmosphere more amiable. By flatly refusing even to come forward for a dialogue the separatists are simply being obstinate.
In their zeal to exclude themselves from the political process, the Huriyat has come to be seen as a part of the problem rather than a solution to the Kashmir issue. For one thing, they are not the elected representatives. For another, they have not come out with any politically realistic proposal of their own for India to consider.
For the separatist not participating in talks this be bad strategy. They risk irrelevance and may be overplaying their hand. There is a change in the mood, as far as Kashmir is concerned. India has much more self assurance in dealing with the Kashmir issue - and this has given the leadership a greater room for maneuver in policy making. While terror attacks continue, some of them on prestige targets, the army has clearly an upper handover the terrorists in the valley. There is an elected government in place with a mandate to improve governance. This government is doing decent better job of managing the state. With tourists returning, the economic situation has not been better in the valley for over two decades.
In the aftermath of the earthquake India did a far better job of providing relief. By contrast, in occupied Kashmir the relief operations were tardy at best. There is some goodwill on the ground for the government today in the valley.
The separatists need to come up with a credible roadmap and demonstrated willingness to negotiate. There time may well be running out as peace returns and the economy picks up. Kashmiris have a stake in peace, to uphold peace and make it permanent, the least the Huriyat can do is to start talking.
The Prime Minister had offered a broad range within which talks could take place. These included discussion on some form of self governance for the state. Earlier they were allowed to travel to Pakistan to meet with that country’s leadership and make the atmosphere more amiable. By flatly refusing even to come forward for a dialogue the separatists are simply being obstinate.
In their zeal to exclude themselves from the political process, the Huriyat has come to be seen as a part of the problem rather than a solution to the Kashmir issue. For one thing, they are not the elected representatives. For another, they have not come out with any politically realistic proposal of their own for India to consider.
For the separatist not participating in talks this be bad strategy. They risk irrelevance and may be overplaying their hand. There is a change in the mood, as far as Kashmir is concerned. India has much more self assurance in dealing with the Kashmir issue - and this has given the leadership a greater room for maneuver in policy making. While terror attacks continue, some of them on prestige targets, the army has clearly an upper handover the terrorists in the valley. There is an elected government in place with a mandate to improve governance. This government is doing decent better job of managing the state. With tourists returning, the economic situation has not been better in the valley for over two decades.
In the aftermath of the earthquake India did a far better job of providing relief. By contrast, in occupied Kashmir the relief operations were tardy at best. There is some goodwill on the ground for the government today in the valley.
The separatists need to come up with a credible roadmap and demonstrated willingness to negotiate. There time may well be running out as peace returns and the economy picks up. Kashmiris have a stake in peace, to uphold peace and make it permanent, the least the Huriyat can do is to start talking.
No comments:
Post a Comment