Beginning Anew In Kashmir
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; which is probably the correct way to view the recent developments on the political front in Kashmir. With last month's release from jail of many Hurriyat leaders and their stilted willingness to begin some sort of negotiations, it looks as if the government is looking for some new interlocutors in Kashmiri affairs. About time, too. For Farooq Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has been found wanting on so many counts that a massive political vacuum exists in that benighted state. Had he been able to provide the sort of leadership that was expected of him, instead of focusing on improving his golf handicap, it is unlikely that Kashmir's people would have remained so alienated.
The home minister, Mr Advani, has done well (though) to not raise too many expectations on what might come through in the wake of the government's latest initiative. He has also rightly stressed the need to focus on development, because if the only thing the people of Kashmir see as representing the Indian state is the barrel of a gun, then militancy cannot be stopped. The security operations have to go hand in hand with a "hearts and minds" battle, which must begin with the basics in a poverty-ridden part of the country. The fact is that, over the years of strife, much damage has been done to ordinary facilities like bridges, schools and other civic infrastructure. Media reports have highlighted how the Farooq government has done precious little to re-build, and thereby contributed to the general alienation. If the Indian state can be shown to represent healthy developmental activity, it can only help restore normalcy in the troubled valley.
However, the business of creating alternatives to Farooq Abdullah is not going to be easy. The minute Mr Geelani talked of the possibility of dividing Kashmir (India's favoured solution since the Simla agreement of 1972), opposing voices have been raised from among the pro-Pakistan crowd. Mufti Mohammed Sayed has thrown his hat into the ring, and members of his family may do so too. It will take some time before it can be clearly established for all to see, as to who really speaks with authority as the representative of the people in the valley.
This process will facilitate the interrupted dialogue with Pakistan; because as a former Israeli prime minister remarked some time ago, before you start negotiating with a hostile neighbour, oHowyou have to negotiate with your own people. It is also reasonable to conclude that (as in the case of West Asia), President Clinton has had something to do with the process getting started, and will presumably keep nudging it. Nevertheless, it is far from clear what these negotiations will yield, or even if they will yield anything at all. But all such journeys must start with a single step. And it is just as well that that step has been taken.