KASHMIR SEMINAR

CRAFTING PEACE IN KASHMIR

EPILOGUE SEMINAR

B G VERGHESE

RADHA KUMAR

M M KAJOORIA

RAMESH MEHTA

ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB

GAUTAM NAVLAKHA

DAYA SAGAR

ERSHAD MEHMUD

NAEEM AKHTAR

INDER MALHOTRA

REKHA CHOUDHARY

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

NYLA ALI KHAN

has been Editor of three top Indian newspapers –Times of India, Hindustan Times and Indian Express. He

served as Information Advisor to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is with Center for Policy Research since 1986

is Director of Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at

Jamia Millia University, New Delhi

a social activist and columnist, he retired as

Director General of J&K Police

is an artist and former Secretary JKAACL, top art and culture body in J&K

leading columnist based in Srinagar, he is author of

Omar Abdullah –the burden of inheritance

is a leading human rights activist and Consulting Editor of Mumbai based

Economic and Political Weekly

is a social activist and leading columnist based in Jammu

a native of Pakistan administered Kashmir, he is a leading policy analyst

based in Islamabad

one of the seasoned civil servants J&K produced, he quit services in Jan 2009 to support

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s political initiatives

former Editor of the Times of India, his syndicated columns appear

in 30 newspapers

Professor of Political Science at University of Jammu

Professor of Political Science at the University of Kashmir

a Professor of English at a US University, she is author of Islam, Women and Violence in Kashmir. She happens to be grand daughter of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah

13 1

VIEWS

AGENDA

PEACEIN

KASHMIR

PEACEIN

KASHMIR

There is a protest in Kashmir over in issue that is hardly new. Soon

it assumes alarming proportions. Situation goes out of control.

Security forces fire a couple of teargas shells and a young boy is

killed. This triggers another round of protests. The confrontation

between protesters and state's forces is terribly shriller than the

previous one. As they take each other heads-on, two more are

killed. There is another round of protests spreading far and wide.

This cycle goes on and on. We saw this in 2008, in 2009 and there

is no visible end to the present season of unrest in the Valley.

Tourists are gone, tourism now seems a thing of past. Students have

not been to schools for almost two months now. Businesses are

shut. A government paralysed by stone pelters makes its occasional

presence through some press statements or television interviews.

It is not likely to go on life this for long. Situation is expected to be

better in coming few days. But return of the turmoil after a brief

interval is also equally certain. After all what is happening in the

Valley? Why this cycle of unrest? What needs to be done at this

stage? With these and more questions, Epilogue reached out to the

people this state and the country looks upon with hope. As we go

through their views, each one of them nearly disagrees with the

other in perspectives but the bottomline is common –there is a

problem which needs immediate measures for redress. There is a

near unanimity in understanding that peace is too essential a

commodity to be left alone to the youths who want to achieve this

by pelting stones or to those who sit in cozy rooms of north block

with their windows shut to the ground or even those who play the

dirty palace games from pristine bungalows of Srinagar's Gupkar

Road. At Epilogue we may agree or disagree with some of the views

but we respect each opinion for clarity of the head and mind of the

person. They have said, with abundant conviction, what they

mean. Since there can't be a consensus in a single go, therefore

this seminar offers a divergence of ideas on the problems and, may

be, some solutions.

SE

MIN

AR

SEMINAR

Kashmir Unrest :The Civil Society Response

Vol. 4, Issue 8 Epilogue, August 2010www.epilogue.in

Palestinians do. To speak then of “cyclic our question frames the question eruption” is not only to de-politicise the wrongly. In an area where problem but to be innocent of the p r o t e s t s a r e c on s i d e r e d Ycontext. “agitational terrorism” by the army ,

“gunless terrorism” by the central para The protests manifests the truth

military forces, where the Prime that military suppression may break the

Minister of India wants authorities to back of armed resistance but it cannot

curb, contain and check protests, and win over people to reconcile to a forced

every protest is held out as inspired, union with India. It is, therefore, while

financed from across the border it according to the officialdom, every

follows that targeting youth would be indice of militant activities, presence,

its operational fallout. Also it infiltration etc has reached “sub-

downplays the fact that denial of critical level” the presence of forces

justice to victims of state terrorism, let monitoring the public and private lives

alone resolution of the 63 year old of people remains by and large intact. If

unresolved problem, leaves them with 2008 protests was triggered by land

no choice other than to register their issue, 2009 by Shopian twin rape and anger. But underneath these catalytic protests. It is when space for exercising murder, this year the Machil fake trigger lies rage at the violence inflicted civil liberties are thwarted that they encounter of three youths and use of by the Indian State on a people, whose take recourse to venting anger by brute force against stone pelters demand was for a democratic resolution pelting stones. Not unlike what the resulting in deaths of youth caused of the problem.

his is most unfortunate. There may be reasons for dissatisfaction with the prevailing situation –

conflict-related distress, unemployment, lack of progress towards a political settlement, HR

violations, etc. But there are ways of discussing and mediating such issues without taking to the Tstreets in provocative (mostly Friday) protests that are being partly engineered by interested parties to

stir the pot and further their narrow agendas. The last Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board and Shopian

agitations are illustrative of issues or non-issues being blown out of all proportion and distorted to serve

nefarious ends. Never forget that Jammu and Kashmir (with Ladakh) is more than Kashmir or just those

parts of the Valley that are disturbed.

QQ This is third year in row that Kashmir is erupting every summer. How do you look at this cycle of unrest.

GAUTAM NAVLAKHA

Underneath these catalytic

triggers lies deep rage

BG VERGHESE

Some protests are partly engineered

A history of unfulfilled pledges, broken promises, political deception, military oppression, illegal political detentions, a scathing human rights record, sterile political alliances, mass exodus, and New Delhi's malignant interference have created a gangrenous body politic that hasn't even started to heal.

NYLA ALI KHAN

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SEMINARKashmir Unrest :The Civil Society Response


REKHA CHOWDHARY

Frequent eruptions in Kashmir clearly reflect a deep-rooted anger

ance to the Human Rights violation is bviously there is something being disregarded to the extent that seriously wrong in Kashmir. The every now and then there is one or the frequent eruptions in Kashmir Oother case of loss of lives of the inno-clearly reflect a deep-rooted anger not cent citizens either in cases of fake only among the youth who are seen to encounters or in the cases of mishan-be pelting stones on the streets but in dling of protests. It is accumulated the society as a whole. There is a feeling anger which also reflects a sense of that even after two decades of conflict betrayal, disillusionment and hopeless-and loss of thousands of lives, Kashmir ness. Apart from the anger against the has not reached anywhere near the reso-state, there is also anger within – in lution of conflict. The pressure built by respect to the separatist politics and militancy has been exhausted and there movement. With the divided leader-is no compulsion for India, internally or ship, there is a sense of loss of direction. externally, to move forward. Hence, for The middle ground of separatist politics long time now, nothing is happening in has since long been lost as the moderate the name of peace process – no efforts have been discredited in the process of are being made to engage Kashmiris in their engagement with New Delhi. The dialogue, no CBMs are being offered – separatist politics is therefore danger-not even the ones approved by Working ously tilted towards the hardcore ele-Committees constituted by the Prime ments who despite the 'consistency' are Minister, and on the contrary, the par-cocooned in their non-negotiable posi-ticipation of people in the processes of tions and hardened stances. On the governance is mistaken as the 'nor-whole, there is lot of confusion which malcy'. Worse, the commitment of the gets reflected in the spontaneous politi-Prime Minister that there be zero toler-cal responses of the people. The latest

phenomenon of stone pelting youth is

further reflecting this confusion. With

no other expression for channeling the

anger of people, and no other political

avenues being available – it is the street

politics which has acquired importance.

The street politics however is not to be

seen only in relation to the teenagers

pelting stones– but in relationship to the

society as a whole. With the separatist

organizations and leaders failing to

offer any alternative politics of resis-

tance, the stone pelting is the only poli-

tics of resistance at the moment with

which people can identify.

f you just expend the time frame it will become easier to

understand the malaise. It is not just three years, not even two

decades but all the sixty three years of the independence that Ithe cycle of turmoil is haunting Kashmir. It is just a coincidence that

these three summers have been particularly hot in continuity. And

administrative reasons have worked as a trigger on all three

occasions.

NAEEM AKHTAR

Don't look at three years,

it is about six decades

It is not just a coincidence that these three summers have been particularly hot in continuity. The problem goes back to 60 years

NAEEM AKHTAR

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SEMINAR


Kashmiri academics, it was pointed out he process of nationalist self-to me that autonomy was an inadequate imagining is likely to remain in a solution. The intractability of the nebulous state so long as the TKashmir conflict has made advocates of destiny of mainstream Kashmiri conflict resolution rather wary of politicians is etched by the pen of the applying a seemingly workable but calligrapher in New Delhi and facile solution to the complex political determined by maneuvers in the murky c o n f l i c t . M a i n s t r e a m m e d i a , den of subcontinental politics. Can J & K intellectuals housed in academic politicians rise above their myopic institutions, formulators of public aspiration to willy-nilly grab the throne policy, and members of think tanks are and scepter? The obvious lack of self-quick to point out that regardless of the reflexivity in regional parties shows a bloody and seemingly infinite nature of glaring inability to carefully consider a political, ethnic, or racial conflict, a the stakes. I wanted to end my book on a viable solution can always be found to hopeful note but, sadly, the reins of J & dilute the fierceness of a conflictual K are yet again in the hands of New situation. But one is cautioned against Delhi. The powers that be can pull those glibly advocating a kitsch solution to the reins in any direction they deem fit. The Kashmir conundrum by the complexity two mainstream regional parties--the of the Kashmir conflict, which embodies NC and the PDP--are pawns in a game of the brutalities of nation building devoid chess in which the odds are in favor of of myth or self-infatuation. The the Congress. unruliness of the Kashmir conflict has J & K in the current political led many to confuse the idea of nation context is a house divided. It is with the power and brute force of the paradoxical to watch political bigwigs, nation-states of India and Pakistan. bureaucrats, and civ i l ian and Although the idea of self-determination paramilitary officers preening and collides with military oppression on the gearing up to celebrate India's likelihood of its being adopted in an contentious site of nationalism, Independence Day, 15 August, while undiluted form to metamorphose political accommodation can lead a many Kashmiris continue to remain in Kashmir's political, cultural, or war-weary people out of the colonnade the abyss of socioeconomic deprivation territorial circumstances? of duplicitous rhetoric, political and political marginalization. J & K is a Both India and Pakistan have a long domination, and forceful imposition. palimpsest that has been inscribed upon

history of deploying rhetorical The debate among political thinkers, two or three times, yet the previous strategies to skirt the issue of scholars, and policy makers about texts have been imperfectly erased plebiscite or complete secession of the finding viable ways to placate and, therefore, remain partially visible. former princely state of J & K. When marginalized ethnic minorities in J & K A history of unfulfilled pledges, broken feeling particularly belligerent, has been infinite. Since the advent of promises, political deception, military Pakistan cries itself hoarse declaring independence, New Delhi's self-deluding oppression, illegal political detentions, the legitimacy of plebiscite held under and self-serving “democratic” approach a scathing human rights record, sterile UN auspices in J & K; India responds has been to allow the disaffected people political alliances, mass exodus, and just as aggressively by demanding the of J & K to voice their “seditious” New Delhi's malignant interference complete withdrawal of Pakistani opinions within the existing political have created a gangrenous body politic troops from the territory of pre-partition framework legitimized by governmental that hasn't even started to heal. J & K; or, in a moment of neighborly rhetoric. The reasonableness of the After the first edition of Islam, solicitude, for conversion of the LOC to a autonomy solution advocated by Women, and Violence in Kashmir: permanent international border. Which mainstream political parties in J & K may Between India and Pakistan, published of these solutions is the most viable? seem axiomatic, but what is the in June 2009, was reviewed by several

NYLA ALI KHAN

Politicians have failed the nation

Sheikh Abdullah had launched movement against Maharaja because he foresaw a better place in secular India. Today, there are people holding torch against India because they search for a future somewhere else

DAYA SAGAR


15


M M KHAJOORIA

This is a grand coupe

o keep Kashmir restless and simmering to be brought to boil at the time of their choosing was the tactical response of

Pakistan establishment to the changed politico-strategic ground realities as assessed probably in 2007. The people Twere fed up with senseless killing .Terrorism had begun to yield diminishing returns provoking public apathy and defiance

This was evidenced by the level of participation in the elections. There were no takers in the world community for “ the

struggle for freedom “ cover for ongoing terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. And terrorism had become a dirty word

The strategic shift involved combination of over ground violent mass street action and spaced terrorist strikes on specific

targets. In the latest bout yet-to-mature , gullible and excitable teenagers were placed in the vanguard .The violent street

action with stones as the weapon of offence invited the use of force by the security forces ( the justification whereof was

subject to formal scrutiny) resulting in civilian causalities exposing the Indian state to Human rights violation et all . The

accompanying man oeuvres in successful management of Public Perception during the last phase of violence succeeded in

confounding the civil society, confusing the political class , put Indian security forces and J&K Police in the dock and gained

immense public sympathy for the “movement .This was sort of a grand coupe which could encourage similar adventurism in

future.

irst of all we must understand that Kashmiris are basically extremely sentimental. It appears that the popular Governments between 2008 and F2010 have failed to gauge the mood and read the mind of the people of

Kashmir leave alone relating to them. There had been a disconnect between the leaders of the ruling coalition and the public.

Well, it is very likely to be the outcome of a design but who allowed the design to succeed? People's whole hearted participation in elections was construed as a license to ignore the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Omar's inaccessibility to even his cabinet colleagues speaks volumes in this behalf. Even Dr. Farooq Abdullah is on record to have said only recently about Omar that, “ He must come to grips with the administration and show the door to officials who don't perform.” This statement is self explanatory and endorses the views held by the common man in the streets.

I would like to recall the SASB agitation in Jammu. It was the manner in which the body of Kuldip Verma was disposed off that fuelled the anger far and wide and helped the agitation enormously otherwise till that day it was just another agitation. Perhaps the same history is being repeated in Kashmir over the last few years.

There has also been a clash of perceptions between the people and the Govt. and Govt. had failed to clear the mist encircling its credentials. Failure of intelligence gathering mechanism as well as lack of responsive administration has been adding fuel to fire.

RAMESH MEHTA

There is obvious disconnect between leaders and peoples

People in Jammu and Kashmir are fed up with present state of affairs. A recent survey by Chatham House has just proved that. A vast majority wants substantive change in present status

ERSHAD MEHMUD


16

SEMINAR


ticularly the youth and new generation here is a role reversal in Kashmir. was exposed to. The social matrix of After 1990 Kashmir Valley has Kashmir valley was damaged, the remained exposed to only a par-TKashmiri Hindu left the valley and their ticular class of views. With this the dia-return was not given the first priority logues and opinions that question the over other material projects. intentions of New Delhi are more often Unfortunately this further helped the expressed. This way the separatist have anti India elements. The efforts of the been getting easy space. The separat-official machinery have not been ists too have found it easy to carry their enough for confidence building since campaigns and propaganda. Rather the the propaganda by the separatists was separatists too see come competition not against the local civil government from parties like PDP. New Delhi has but it was and has been against the been playing very soft on separatists as nationality. Even Indian National well as those who advocate separatist Congress has worked as local party , it like preferences for Kashmir valley. cannot compete with National National Conference that had in earlier Conference politically and so the best days simply preached special treat-thought way to keep NC uneasy by ments for Kashmiris, has now started allowing the anti NC elements alive in feeling suffocated in the separatist envi-valley. Under these circumstances sum-ronment and for its survival is not able mer is the best time for the separatists to play harsh on the separatist ele-to reach out to the outer world since the ments. The quit Kashmir torch that was borders are also live, the tourist season held by Sheikh Abdullah, against is on, the State government heads are in Maharaja Hari Singh in 1946 to ensure valley . So we have been seeing the val-that in independent India the demo-ley more disturbed in summers in cratic power in State of J&K comes in recent times.the hands of NC like it would be for

Congress in India, has now been very cleverly held by Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani. But now it is against India. Moreover except central grants no any other tool has been used by the Government all these years in Kashmir valley to remedy the misconceptions, separatist propaganda, anti India cam-paigns, doubts on the genuineness of 1947 Accession, the two nation theory and the status of princely states . Before 1996 almost all political cadres had moved out of the valley. And when they returned in 1996 they moved amongst the people under tight securities. This way they could not win the confidence of the people in an environment where anti India ideologies have been only inputs that the common Kashmiri par-

DAYA SAGAR

For separatists, summer is best

time to communicate

ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB t would be foolhardy to see a conspiracy angle or a planned

pattern to this phenomenon. This eruption is simply a Ispontaneous public reaction to political and economic

suffocation, coupled by excesses by and impunity to armed forces

in the state. The problem is that there is a big disconnect between

the rulers and the common people, especially the youth, and the

former are not fully able to understand the nature of the latent

aggression and discontent among the people. And the root cause is

New Delhi's aversion to address the core issue – Srinagar's

completely eroded political and economic rights. And an onslaught

on its larger identity.

It is accumulated anger which also reflects a sense of betrayal, disillusionment and hopelessness. Apart from the anger against the state, there is also anger within – in respect to the separatist politics and movement. With the divided leadership, there is a sense of loss of direction

REKHA CHOWDHARY


17


ERSHAD MEHMUD

Dividends of 2008 elections were not consolidated

he massive destruction and human losses in the wake of militant struggle in the Valley in 1990s had forced many Kashmiris to shun their armed struggle Tand revert to a non-violent movement. The peace process initiated between

India and Pakistan imbibed a new hope in this segment of the society which fully sup-ported it. However, things stand totally changed today as the process has failed to yield significant results; mainly because of lukewarm Indian response coupled with the political turmoil in Pakistan.

The people of Valley once again preferred ballot over bullet in 2008 when state assembly elections were held in Kashmir. Pakistan too tacitly supported this exer-cise and things went smoothly. In fact, Islamabad put its weight behind Omar Abdullah who promised to promote broader reconciliation between Delhi and Islamabad and also within Jammu and Kashmir to create local consensus. However, he failed to create a space for the separatists in the local politics due to Delhi's ter-rorism centric approach towards Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai attacks.

People of Kashmir are fedup with the current state of affairs. Recently, Colonel Qadhafi's son Saif-Al-Islam commissioned the first opinion poll on both sides of LoC on the future of Kashmir. The poll was conducted by a well reputed organiza-tion IpsosMORI in October - November 2009 and published by the Chatham House London. The survey suggests that the protracted conflict made huge negative impact on the people?s lives. The poll maintains that an overwhelming 80% of Kashmiris ? 75% in AJK and 82% in J&K. felt that the dispute was very important for them personally. It shows that a vast majority of the people wants substantive change in the present status. It also shows the people's frustration with the current state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. In my view, as long as Delhi and Islamabad do not jointly take tangible steps to stabilize Kashmir Valley lasting peace cannot return to Kashmir. In this regard, they have to pick up the threads where they were left before Mumbai attacks.

he upsurge and uprising of youth power need not surprise us. The youth were always at the forefront of rights- based

movements in Kashmir .After all gun too was taken by the youth against the State. In recent times stone pelting youth Tand the consequent disruption of civic, economic and political life has made many Kashmir watchers to offer their own

explanations as to what has happened and how to retrieve the further collapse. There is no doubt that the peace process

both in its internal and external domain had brought a sense of confidence and optimism in the life of an average Kashmiri

youth.The youth were feeling that the world has starting opening to them. The disruption in that process did make a dent in

the psychology of Kashmiri youth. Despite the fact that many organizations in Kashmir either in unionist or separatist's camp

are headed by young men and women but that has not translated into either their fascination or empowerment of youth. The

youth have a feeling that their leaders have lost their autonomy to confront the might of the Indian State. Some critical

issues dominant in Kashmir discourse like Land, demography, drug abuse, violations of human rights have their own impact on

youth psyche. Further rising economic and globalizing India does not mean much to an educated youth who remain under

scanner of security agencies once he moves out side the state for education or jobs.

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

There is hardly anything surprising

about protests; anger is deep

There is a strategic shift in Pakistani establishment's approach to Kashmir. Keeping Kashmir simmering at the time of their choosing is their tactical response to the waning scheme of terrorism. In the latest bout gullible and excitable teenagers were kept in the vanguard. This is a sort of grand coupe

MM KHAJOORIA


18

SEMINAR


or achieving the minimum peace in the Valley, first thing that is required is the improvement of record of Human Rights violations and both the Central and FState government should see to it that the innocent civilians are not harmed

in any way. The present cycle of violence needs to be broken and a message needs to be given to those responsible for maintaining law and order that every life is valuable and order cannot be restored at the cost of human lives. However, there is no possibility of peace without the political initiatives. The political response has to go beyond the knee jerk and adhoc response to crisis situations. Not doing anything will not lead us anywhere. There is a need of political vision and political will to resolve conflict situation. Given the emotive response to Kashmir at the national level, it may not be possible to immediately provide a model of conflict resolution, but at least some beginning needs to be made. New Delhi needs to address the trust deficit that it has in Kashmir. To remove this trust deficit, the Government of India will have take step, which might be very small, but which should reflect the genuineness and sincerity of the Government of India. It is important the people should get a feeling that a peace deal with Pakistan would not be brokered without the participation of Kashmiris and whatever happens people would be given a chance to deliberate upon issues.

oth governments should make only those promises which they are capable of fulfilling. Saying

that sky is the limit and not allowing even the rooftop is not going to work. Forming the Working

Groups and consigning their recommendations to records sends wrong signals. It is foolhardy to Bbelieve that unemployment is driving the youth to stone pelting. It is a recognized fact that Kashmir is

not included in the list of 8 most poor States of India. Unemployment today is a worldwide

phenomenon. Hence, there is much more to it than meets the eye. Why is it that whenever there is a

crisis of this sorts the politicians belonging to the ruling coalition goes into hibernation instead of

going to and facing the people? Yes, by facing the people they are destined to face their wrath but that

is the price they should be prepared to pay for earning the title of being genuine representatives of

the people. Other wise the vacuum created by them in troubled times is bound to be, and is being,

filled by the separatist elements.

QQ What should State and Center do at this stage.

RAMESH MEHTA

Make only those promises which can be fulfilled

An internal political dialogue must commence on all issues – the task force reports (centre-state relations and regional autonomy), governance, meaningful decentralization through empowered panchayati raj structures, the future of the Pandits, development and employment, disappearances, HR violations, etc. Nothing and nobody need be excluded

BG VERGHESE

REKHA CHOUDHARY

The should come up with political response


19


ook at the realities and acknowledge them. Unfortunately everybody has been

in a denial mode on Kashmir. The problem exists at more than one level. And Lunfortunately the current turmoil has introduced yet another level to it. The

youth who are spearheading it sense an existential threat to them as a result of the

killing of scores of them. This has happened in the backdrop of comparable

situations receiving completely different treatment. Media has made instant

comparison possible. And the youth or the general public in Kashmir does not view it

as difference of approach but discrimination as in the case of dealing with Naxal

violence. While Naxals armed with guns and literally butchering security forces are

called and treated as “our own men” who can't be fought with weapons, bullet is

prescribed as the only solution to Kashmir's angry protestors. And to legitimize this

approach conspiracy theories are cooked up with the help of a media that in case of

Kashmir has always sided with the establishment and worked as part of security

apparatus. Unfortunately the establishment in Delhi has never treated Kashmir as a

part of the country or its exciting democratic enterprise while accusing everybody

else of trying to snatch it away. As part of that mindset which sees Kashmir as a held

territory rather than part of a nation full of different strains even a genuine

democratic opposition is treated with suspicion and dubbed antinational if the ruler

is a darling of Delhi. Could it happen that Mamta Banerji is called upon to help

communists in diffusing Nandigram and if she didn't attend a meeting with the chief

minister be called antinational? While the political problem of Kashmir will remain

as long as it is not actually solved without waiting for it to disappear, governance has

also been an important factor. It is the administrative quality that has always

determined the dormant or active nature of people's anger. History is a witness to it.

Quoting the more recent chapter of it may be relevant but not necessary. Compare

2002-2005 to the years that followed it or preceded it. Same human beings could

produce different results. Same people of Kashmir were inspired to write a new

agenda of peace for South Asia that are now being maligned as stone pelters risking

lives for 100 bucks (foreign funds) a day. Same people crowded the polling stations

to create new records for the country who are now being defamed as Let terrorists.

That is enough to indicate what needed to be done. But it may already be too late

for Omar Abdullah to begin afresh. For credibility once lost is impossible to recover.

ollback the regime of repression which is in place since 1989, indeed many of the extraordinary laws need to be repealed or revoked which have been there since 1947, release political prisoners, and stop use of brute force to suppress people who Rprotest. These are what I consider as basic minimum required to ensure that a political process can be initiated for reaching

a democratic and peaceful solution. It is outrageous that people writing on Facebook or activists organizing protests should be charged for inciting violence when it is the Indian and state police forces which are responsible for causing the unrest in the first place by their commission of atrocities and then by cracking down on the media to ensure that people do not get to know the truth. Take the most recent instance. Machill killing highlighted the fact that there is a co-relation between the disappeared and the unidentified graves. Kalaroos graveyard, where the three youths were killed and buried was one of the many graveyards investigated by the International Peoples Tribunal on Kashmir and the findings show that there were 2373 unidentified graves containing unnamed 2943 bodies in 55 villages of just three districts! How can it inspire confidence when no steps are taken to investigate this to reveal the truth lying buried in the mass graves in J&K? Why should this be considered something not doable. If this is not doable why expect people to remain placid when faced with these harsh realities that punctuate their live

The rouge element in the counter-insurgency grid of the State needs to be eliminated. All corrupt elements in government and administration need to be weeded out.Saint Augustine [Christian philosopher] used to say that all unjust rulers need to be killed}.That is one way to stop the revolutions.

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

NAEEM AKHTAR

First, acknowledge the basic problem

GAUTAM NAVLAKHA

Repeal black laws, stop brute force


20

SEMINAR


he central government should terminate the policy of pampering and

“pleasing” the political elite and focus on the aspiration of the common Tman instead. It must ensure that the benefit of the huge financial inputs to

the state reaches the common man in full . More importantly speedy and effec-

tive steps be taken to convince the people that the financial support was neither

meant to be “Khairat” nor bribe money.

I am convinced that the most potent source of alienation in Kashmir is the

strong feeling that the government in Delhi as well as other states equate the

entire community with the militant anti-national fringe. Every Kashmiri Muslim

was suspect. The strong , transparent and painful emotions generated by this

humiliating treatment should be effectively addressed on topmost priority to

the satisfaction of the Kashmiri civil society.

, The state government had lot to introspect about. The foremost question

to be addressed was what made the Kashmiri Muslim youth so vulnerable to and

such easy prey for manipulation by subversive elements despite unprecedented

financial allocations by the centre, special economic packages, huge inputs in

infrastructural development ,sanction of central universities and other institutions

of higher education and government claims of massive employment generation. ?

The Tourism was booming and Pilgrim tourism never had it so good. Was it frustra-

tion , desperation ,hopelessness or total loss of faith in the system and conduct of

governance? Chief Minister Umar Abdullah must initiate immediate steps to ascer-

tain what precisely went wrong with the system and take urgent corrective mea-

sures..On the law and order front. the state apparatus needed to be reoriented and

geared to face the challenges of normalcy . I wish someone had taken seriously and

acted on suggestions contained in my article titled “The challenges of Normalcy”

published in November, 2009.. It was still very much relevant.

irst acknowledge that 60 years of carrot and stick

quick fixes have not worked to quell popular discon-Ftent in Kashmir. Anything skirting the core political

question is unlikely to help in achieving durable peace. The

state government must act as a facilitator between New

Delhi and those who see the solution to the Kashmir issue

beyond the political status quo. It must also try to explore a

common ground with all political stakeholders in the state

to set a political agenda for New Delhi-Srinagar talks which

addresses people's political aspirations, and at the same

time takes into account the economic and political realities

of our region and the world at large.

n all issues like zero tolerance for human rights violations, dialogue, reconciliation the Ogap between promise and performance

needs to be removed. The independent enquiry recommended by all party committee to probe recent killings of youth needs to be speeded up and findings made public. The rouge element in the counter-insurgency grid of the State needs to be eliminated.All corrupt elements in government and administration need to be weeded out.Saint Augustine [Christian philosopher] used to say that all unjust rulers need to be killed}.That is one way to stop the revolutions.


Keep the core politicalquestion in mind

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

Remove gaps between promise and performance

MM KHAJOORIAl

Center and State have a lot to introspect


Political leaders of the state ought to be in constant touch with the people. But none is doing that. The Centre is surprisingly even more inactive

INDER MALHOTRA

21


urrently, mainstream political parties in Indian-administered J & K have

jumped on the autonomy bandwagon. Although these terms are often used Cinterchangeably, the differences between them are not insignificant. New

Delhi asserts, time and again, that a revitalized Indian federalism will

accommodate Kashmiri demands for an autonomous existence. But, historically,

federalism hasn't always adequately redressed the grievances of disaffected ethnic

minorities. Here, I concur with Robert G. Wirsing's observation that, “while

autonomy seems to imply less self-rule than does the term confederalism, for

instance, it is generally understood to imply greater self-rule than federalism,

which as in the American case, need not cater to ethnic group minorities at all”

(2003: 199).

Given Kashmir's treacherous political climate and the rampant political

factionalism in that region, the appeal of an ambiguous “autonomy” remains intact

for some groups but for others, as has been forcefully pointed out to me by a couple

of political scientists, it is a wrong narrative to establish in the case of Kashmir.

Sadly, the Kashmir conflict is no longer just about establishing the pristine

legitimacy of the right of self-determination of the people of J & K, the former

princely state. Rather, prolonging the conflictual situation works in the interests of

some of the actors, state as well as nonstate, on both sides of the LOC. Some civil

and military officials--Indian, Pakistani, and Kashmiri--have been beneficiaries of

the militarization of Kashmir and the business of the “war on terror.” Also, some

militants, armed and unarmed, have cashed in on the political instability in the

state to establish lucrative careers. For such individuals and groups self-

determination and autonomy work well as hollow slogans stripped of any

substantive content. The dismal truth is that the wish to establish the legitimacy of

self-determination or autonomy vis-à-vis J & K is not universal. The current political

discourse in the state has strayed far from home.

t should be acknowledged at the level of policy-makers and political elite that Kashmir issue has internal

as well as external dimensions to deal with. There is no denying the fact that during the last two decades IIslamabad's influence in the Kashmir Valley has increased tremendously.

As long as Islamabad and New Delhi continue to follow hostile approaches towards each other and do not

stop the zero sum game, peace in Kashmir will remain a pipedream.

However, Jammu and Kashmir government led by Omar Abdullah can also play a vital role if it

demonstrates political maturity. No matter what political cost it has to pay, the state government should not

allow the security forces to use high handed policies to curb protests. If Mufti Saeed can take risk to initiate a

war of ideas and politics with separatists, why Omer Abdullah is shy of engaging them at this point of time.

Imposition of PSA and NSA is no solution to the current upsurge. It, in fact, has aggravated the situation

further. Releasing of all political opponents can also help to improve the law and order situation.

Launch new initiatives - pursue Omar's attempts to get punishments for HR violations and crimes, bridge polarization between Jammu and valley; CRPF to act only as backup to JK police

RADHA KUMAR

NYLA ALI KHAN

Adopt an inclusive approach

ERSHAD MEHMUD

Demonstrate political maturity


22

SEMINAR


he all-Party talks on July 11 Mindless “protests” that suggested an independent degenerate into hooliganism inquiry into the entire gamut of T

must be dealt with firmly recent incidents including deaths, fir-

ing, curfews, stone pelting, intercepts, and political leaders must etc, and appealed to the Prime Minister

participate in providing to initiate a sustained political process.

This offers a good starting point. “leadership for peace and The inquiry must go to its logical reconciliation”.

conclusion and not be allowed to be The present protests are derailed as in the past because the truth

is uncomfortable to some. by a third post-1947 gener-An internal political dialogue must ation of youth that is con-

commence on all issues – the task force cerned more with the reports (centre-state relations and

regional autonomy), governance, mean- future than the past. Can ingful decentralization through empow-

we structure a volunteer ered panchayati raj structures, the

“Peace Corps for future of the Pandits, development and

employment, disappearances, HR viola- Reconciliation, Harmony and tions, etc. Nothing and nobody need be

Reconstruction” comprising excluded. The agenda can be framed in the

first round. The door should be kept open J&K and other Indian youth to for all to participate but those who boycott The Indo-Pakistan dialogue is on a work together on agreed and cannot be given any right of veto. If they different track and will proceed inde-

doable projects and are left out of the process it will be for pendently. Efforts to confuse the two them to explain why. The Hurriyat has should be resisted. Pakistan cannot be programmes of education, sat on the fence for far too long. The part of an internal settlement within health delivery, rural recon-internal dialogue must be sustained and India. The internal and international dia-unbroken with a trusted and credible struction, sport, culture, skill logues are independent though interde-Central interlocutor (and a state level pendent. The internal dialogue is by far formation and capacity build-counterpart if necessary) being the more important and there will be

ing in different parts of the inducted at the next stage to carry for- efforts to sabotage it by separatist ele-ward discussions on the nitty-gritty. state ? ments precisely for that reason.

QQ Everyone is talking about dialogue. Your thoughts about it.

BG VERGHESE

Lot needs to be done, one can begin by probing wrongs and empowering peoples

Too much time has been wasted in sterile talks between the Centre and Kashmir leaders because no Kashmiri party or group is prepared to offer any suggestion on what should be the content of greater autonomy for J&K

INDER MALHOTRA


23


he armed conflict has changed Political organizations in the Valley

political combinations and per- have eroded mass bases and are in a mor-Tmutations without either disrupt- ibund state. There seems to be an

ing political, social, and gender hierar- unbridgeable gulf between figures of

chies or benefiting marginalized authority and the electorate, who have

groups. The social, economic, political, been deployed as pawns in the devious

and psychological brunt of the armed political game being played by Indian

conflict has been borne by the populace and Pakistani state-sponsored agen-

of Kashmir. The uncertainty created by cies. The glaring lack of a well-

twenty years of armed insurgency and equipped infrastructure in the Valley

counterinsurgency has pervaded the makes unemployment rife and under-

social fabric in insidious ways, creating scores the redundancy of the educated

a whole generation of disaffected and dis- segment of the population. The coun-

illusioned youth. Lack of faith in the terinsurgency operations undertaken

Indian polity has caused Kashmiris to cul- in J & K by the Indian military and para-

tivate an apathy to the electoral process military forces were ferocious and

because it is a given that persons best cruel, and have alienated the disillu-

suited to carry out New Delhi's agenda sioned populace.

will be installed in positions of political Restoration of trust is a prerequi-import, regardless of public opinion. The site to any kind of dialogue; attempts to earlier enthusiasm that accompanied reduce troop deployment in Jammu and democratization seems totally futile in Kashmir; reining in paramilitary troops the current leadership vacuum in the and holding them accountable for their state. Lack of accountability among the J actions; restoration of institutions of & K polity and bureaucracy has caused a civil society; bringing the intelligentsia large number of people to toe the line by of J & K into the fold and giving cre-living with the fundamental structural dence to their opinions; restoration of inequities and violence, instead of risk- grassroots level institutions without ing the ire of groups and individuals in which any kind of internal dialogue positions of authority. would be futile.

t is important to engage the Kashmiris and for that a dialogue process needs to be started. Even when

it is true that there can be no lasting peace till Pakistan is involved in it, it may not be fair to make the

internal dialogue hostage to the improvement of India-Pak relations and resumption of composite Idialogue. While dialogue channel with the separatists, who are ready to be engaged, needs to be opened

by the Government of India, there should be multiple dialogues. Dialogues which should continue in one

form or the other – dialogue with the separatists, with the civil society, with the intellectuals, with the

political class across the ideological lives, However, dialogue should not take place for the sake of

dialogues, but also for the sake of building consensus and moving forward towards peace.

NYLA ALI KHAN

Restoration of trust is pre-requisite

REKHA CHOUDHARY

Initiate inclusive talks, don't make them hostage to external dialogue

Within Jammu & Kashmir state, it is time for some hard decisions. A majority of people in Leh district and Udhampur-Jammu-Kathua districts are not inclined to be part of any process where New Delhi's political authority in the state is put for negotiations. I personally believe Srinagar needs to respect their aspirations and let them chart their own political destiny. It is better to say good-bye to each other as good friends than be at loggerheads perpetually



24

SEMINAR


academics and most importantly civil he current internal dialog is society. Such combination can be totally ill conceived. They are expected to inject the required ba r k i n g t he w rong t r ee Tbalance and pave the way for .Competing and conflicting political consensus. . The exercise must be and developmental aspirations of informed by some basic premises like, segments of people destined to live preservation of the integrity of our together cannot be resolved by retired composite state and the three regions or serving Judges saddled with as well a commitment to secularism and committees comprising of political plural ethos .Promotion of communal party reps bound to the party agenda . It interests under any garb should be is not a question of right or wrong. Even barred. Once a consensus is arrived at , a majority view point cannot be t h e e x p e r t c o m m i t t e e s a n d imposed on unwilling or defiant Ladakh constitutional experts can be involved. and Jammu. The requirement is to Essentially, the search is for a evolve a consensus. const itut ional re-arrangement, The central government should d e m o c r a t i c i n e s s e n c e a n d therefore act as the facilitator ,bring decentralized in form which broadly together the elected representatives, satisfied urges and aspirations of leaders of different sections of society people in al the three regions of J&K.like commerce, legal fraternity,

t can be helpful if New Delhi makes it a tri-

partite -Srinagar-Delhi, Srinagar-Islamabad and Ifinally Delhi and Islamabad based exercise.

However, dialogue between various regions and

intra-Kashmir dialogue can always be helpful to

narrow down the extreme positions and to create a

broader understanding of each other's point of

view. In this connection, I would always suggest dia-

logue should be backed by the practical steps to

improve the ground realities such as demilitariza-

tion form the urban centers, etc.

MM KHAJOORIA

We are a plural state,

initial a plural dialogue

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

Make quiet dialogue visible, credible

he internal political dialogue needs to be

initiated as quickly as possible. The dialogue

process needs to be properly instituted and Tstructured. There is no doubt that quiet dialogue

process had certain advantages but it needs to be made

visible and credible. Though the need is for an inclusive

dialogue we can consider having a separate round table

for groups outside the mainstream arena. All this is

recommended so that we learn to walk before running.

It is better that we get away from employing retired

bureaucrats as interlocutors. Jammu and Kashmir needs

to be taken away from Home ministry and placed directly

under the Prime Ministers charge. The Ministry of Kashmir

affairs needs to be revived so that there is focused

attention on issues related to Jammu and Kashmir.

ERSHAD MAHMUD

Go for tripartite dialogue but don't ignore locals groups

Either you give alternative to people or accept that people have no one to look up to except the separatists. It may be a different thing that instead of providing leadership separatists have been riding on the popular anger

RAMESH MEHTA


25

SEMINAR


(UJC), on their part, need to set a date nternal dialogue alone would not do. for the welcome of Kashmiri Pandit A result-oriented dialogue has to be migrants back to Kashmir with all due rectangular. New Delhi-Srinagar dia-Idignity and safety. logue at one level and New Delhi-

Islamabad at another level. For the sake Within Jammu & Kashmir state, it

of sustainable peace, Srinagar- is time for some hard decisions. A

Islamabad and Srinagar-Muzaffarabad majority of people in Leh district and

dialogues are also important to create Udhampur-Jammu-Kathua districts are

meaningful consensus on political and not inclined to be part of any process

water issues. As far as Srinagar-New where New Delhi's political authority in

Delhi dialogue is concerned, it would the state is put for negotiations. I per-

require some confidence building mea- sonally believe Srinagar needs to

sures: setting of a deadline for simulta- respect their aspirations and let them

neous withdrawal of troops to pre-1989 chart their own political destiny. It is

positions and strength, release of all better to say good-bye to each other as

political prisoners, freedom of speech good friends than be at loggerheads per-

and assembly, freedom of peaceful petually. That way, people will continue

political mobilization and renunciation to maintain good personal relations and

of arms by all militant groups. Both the trade with each other in a cordial and

Hurriyats and the United Jihad Council mutually beneficial manner.

ee, you have no other way to move forward except

through dialogue. On the very signs of semblance Sof normalcy you start saying that Hurriyat has

become irrelevant and when you are faced with the

trouble on the streets you start harping for dialogue

with them. How could it be? Back channel initiatives are

most suited for finding a way out of this impasse. But

here again fear of attacks like the one on Fazalul Haq

Qureshi will not let Hurriyat move forward. I believe

that there is no need to go public on any kind of parleys

before arriving at some workable resolution. Undue

publicity robs backchannel initiatives of its working

environment.

In the alternative, either you give alternative to

people or accept that people have no one to look up to

except to separatists. It may be a different thing that

instead of providing leadership separatists have been

riding on the popular anger.


Initiate a rectangular dialogue

RAMESH MEHTA

Engage the leaders of dissent through back channels

esuming dialogue with whom? The leaders

are in Jail who now have teenagers from the

street for company. Teenagers who were pro-Rtesting the killing of their classmates, friends and

acquaintances are filling up jails and lock ups.

Someone in the system need to have the credibility

to be listened to and I honestly believe there is no

one on the horizon right now. The Prime Minister

even though he did not respond to the killings in

Kashmir could still make the difference. But it has

to be at his level.

NAEEM AKHTAR

Sorry to say, there is no hope

Reining in paramilitary troops and holding them accountable for their actions; restoration of institutions of civil society; bringing the intelligentsia of J & K into the fold and giving credence to their opinions; restoration of grassroots level institutions without which any kind of internal dialogue would be futile.

NYLA ALI KHAN


27

t is really difficult to say anything to how youth in other conflict situations

youth at this time what we can only cope up with their day to day Ipromise but cannot perform. We problems. If the state has six lakh

need to ensure that honor and dignity of unemployed youth then we ought to

the people is respected. The youth must have a coherent youth policy drawn in

have a feeling that opportunities are consultation with those experts who

open to them in the entire world. have sufficient knowledge about

Kashmiri youth must have a sense of Kashmir.It is high time that State

security in and outside the Kashmir. knowledge commission is established

We need to create social and so that we are able to understand as to

democratic spaces where our youth how to reorient the system of college

can express themselves. The youth and university education in the state

need to be patient and also understand as a long term measure.

QQ Your message to restless valley youths.

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

Counseling Kashmiri youth is most difficult at the moment


outh at this time is in a very difficult situation for the burden of separatist politics has been placed on their Yshoulders. This is certainly not fair, since the youth

cannot lead the movement because it itself needs to be led. The vacuum that exists in the resistance politics of Kashmir, cannot be filled in by the stone pelting youth. The reason that they are getting killed is not only the agents of the state are responding ruthlessly to their protest activities, but also because they are not being restrained by the members of the civil and political society. Youth needs to be engaged in more productive activities and they need to be told that the future of the state as well as the movement demands their role hence they need to be saved for that role. What is more important for them at the present time is their education so that they can take their own responsibility as well as that of the society.

REKHA CHOUDHARY

Youth needs to be engaged in more productive activities

am left with no moral power to

render an advice to Kashmiri Iyouths because I feel I belong to a

failed generation that leaves behind

a messier place than the one we

inherited. The boys are trying to find

their own path and I would only tell

them “dekho mujhe jo deeda e ibrat

nigaah ho”.

NAEEM AKHTAR

Dekho Mujhe Jo Deeda E Ibrat Nigaah Ho

Youths should not fall prey to jihadist and others who want to sever J&K from its rich, secular Kashmiriyat, and sufi-rishi heritage

BG VERGHESE


28

SEMINAR


he movement is alive and kicking will be squandered through cunning and

with the third generation now stealth of the authorities as Shopian Ttaking over the baton. The incident so well illustrates. Therefore,

protests have not been futile going by sustainability of protests is what the

the fact that the intelligentsia and youth should keep in mind. Especially,

authorities have again woken up to while their courage at being able to face

speak of doing something to defuse the death or fatal injury at the hands of a

situation. It is also a reminder, to use heavily armed security force cannot be

the words of a stone-pelter that “we minimized, they have to consider using

want to tell the world that there is no means other than stones to remind the

normalcy here. We live in a disturbed world about what injustices have been

area”. Equally, it is a reminder to all dealt them and what they want. In the

that only protests compel authorities, long run truth is the strongest weapon

and an insensitive Indian intelligentsia, against oppressors and articulating

to become aware of people's mood. It demands during protests/agitations will

may well be that the efforts of the youth lend their protests credibility.

o me it appears that there is a deep rooted feeling among

the Kashmiri youth that they have been let down by one and Tall. Youth of the valley, howsoever disenchanted they may

be with the system, need to understand that violence will brood no

solution. They must observe and take lessons from Pakistan as to

how Talibanisation is wrecking Pakistan's economy and the civil

society. They have to realize that they are being used as a pawn in

the international game. There is no single recognized party, from

among mainstream parties or otherwise, to whom disenchanted

youth of Kashmir can look to. There may be unity of purpose

among the separatists but there is no unity of minds.

Further, had the issue been limited to India and the Kashmiris

alone, then there could have been some hope for finding an

amicable as well as workable solution but here the element of

Pakistan besides, may be, international agencies is also involved.

Given the fragile nature of Pakistan government/s no concrete

outcome for peace in Kashmir is expected at the moment. Hence

instead of going astray the youth of Kashmir may do better to join

nation building, even if their notion of nation may be limited to

Kashmir only.

GAUTAM NAVLAKHA

They have to consider using means other than stones

RAMESH MEHTA

Youth of Kashmir may do better in nation building

o counsel anything to them looks

fruitless at a time when they are going

by their political and basic human Tinstincts, and not even listening to political

leaders who champion their cause. But, yes,

the youth must not allow their political

struggle be communalized.


Youth must not

allow their political

struggle be

communalized

As an Indian citizen I owe them (Kashmiri youths) an apology, that all my attempts to end their isolation and mistreatment have failed

RADHA KUMAR


29


y sincere advice to the acceptable to all the three

valley youth will be to regions of J&K will have a chance Mpause and think. Then . So use the time to convince

some realities will dawn upon others of your point of view

them which need not necessarily through logic and rationale .

look pleasant on the first sight. Four. In the meanwhile life has

One: The “Kashmir Issue” is not to go on. So concentrate on

going to be resolved in a hurry or your studies . / professional

in isolation from Indo-Pak recon- duties so that you are equipped

ciliation. Two: Disturbances in to improve your quality of life

Kashmir can only contribute to and that of your family.

the deepening of the conflict Participate in the great Indian

and subversion of the peace march towards the goal of an

process there by further e conomic super power . The God

delaying the resolution Three. almighty has in His beneficence

In the final analysis , only that endowed you with higher IQ

decision which suits , I repeat and intuitive capability . Prove

suits India and Pakistan and was worthy of it.

uild the future. Do not become prisoners of the past, of old

hatreds, of mistrust and ideological propaganda. Do not fall a prey Bto the jihadists and others who want to sever J&K from its rich,

secular Kashmiriyat andsufi-rishi heritage. That is the path of self-

destruction. Make a careful study of the constitutions of Pakistan

Administered Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region and their operation

on the ground and ask yourself if that is the model of “self-

determination” you wish to adopt.

J&K's problems are by no means unique. They are variously shared

by people in other parts of India. If we join hands, then together we can

and shall overcome.

MM KHAJOORIA

Just pause and think

BG VERGHESE

Don't become prisoners of the past

The restless youth of Kashmir - some of whom have turned into stone-pelters, paid and unpaid - do need to be assuaged. The best way would be to ensure them jobs within Kashmir or in rest of India

INDER MALHOTRA


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