Page 11 - English Tehelka Issue 12 - June 30, 2018

kashmir

Rajnath’s J&K visit dashes hopes topping up the truce with more confi- Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar talk of the talks than a search for dia-
This success has raised hopes of
Farooq and Yasin Malik having formed
logue. Talking about the talks is an end
in itself as it creates a false sense of a
a united front named as Joint Resist-
dence-building measures like the talks
of a dialogue with Hurriyat with Hurriyat. But, despite making a ance Leadership, the prospect of a dia- political outreach,’’ said Naseer Ahmad,
a local columnist. ‘’Therefore, the need
chorus of noises to the effect, the cen-
logue has become an even more com-
tre is baulking at the prospect. And the
to keep the pretension of engagement
plex affair. While Hurriyat doves led
reason for this is not far to seek: to bring by Mirwaiz feel diffident about taking with Kashmir going.’’
Hurriyat on board, the centre would a much-travelled road, there is hardly However, the only element that
Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit was expected to extend a formal offer to the separatist need to make more than dialogue-fa- any reason for the hardliners to change could lend credibility to this talk with
vouring noises, as is apparent from the their worldview. Geelani has built up
the Hurriyat is the restoration of the
groups for talks but left the onus on the Hurriyat itself. The situation thus remains hopelessly former’s lukewarm response so far. his current following on the unwaver- bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. If the
deadlocked with both sides choosing to tentatively approach each other rather than directly “Making statements in media and ing rejection of engagement with New dialogue with the separatists is held as
working out to the mutual terms for engagement, riyaz wani explores expecting us to respond makes no Delhi. a counterpoint to the talks with Islama-
sense,” said a Hurriyat leader.
bad, this will give the exercise some
The hardliner has his own reasons
for cynicism. He thinks a meaning.
formal engagement with But such a prospect, as of now, looks
uring his two-day visit would take its time to discuss and New Delhi is nothing but distant. Pakistan is in already in elec-
to J&K, the Home Minis- respond. a devious process of dip- tion mode circumscribing the chance
ter, Rajnath Singh, made “If Delhi really cares for our chil- lomatic merry-go-round and the space for resumption of talks
all the right noises. He dren and young and it’s (call for which doesn’t get any - with India. And, by 2018 end also, the
D said the centre was dialogue is) because of a change in where. He is for dialogue government in New Delhi will have
ready for talks with all the stake- the policy rather than the change with New Delhi but before
holders in Kashmir. In an apparent of circumstances, then it’s a human that wants the centre to
reference to separatist groups, he gesture and we welcome it,” Hur- acknowledge Kashmir as
said that for the dialogue to take riyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar “a disputed territory”. He “Making
place being right-minded was more Farooq said at Srinagar’s Grand also seeks the involvement statements
important than being like-minded. Mosque. “The best way is to rise of Pakistan as a party in a
But he stopped short of extending above the fixed positions and ad- trilateral process between in media and
a formal offer to Hurriyat, just what dress the issues through the ambit New Delhi, Islamabad and expecting us to
he was anticipated to do. Instead, he of humanity and justice.” Kashmiris. And to top it all,
once again put the onus of holding The situation thus remains hope- he also rejects any flexible respond makes
a dialogue with the centre on the lessly deadlocked with both sides settlement proposals on no sense,” said a
Hurriyat itself. choosing to tentatively approach Kashmir and insists on UN
“I appeal to people of J&K, for each other rather than directly resolutions on Kashmir to Hurriyat leader
the sake of peace in the state please working out to the mutual terms be the starting point for
come forward. It should not hap- for engagement. That is easier said any initiative on the state.
pen that one more generation of than done. More so, for the BJP-led And, the BJP which has an eye on the 2019 polls, dissuading it
J&K gets lost in darkness,” Singh government in New Delhi, this has an integrationist policy on from a troubled engagement with its
said while addressing a press con- adopted a hawkish line on Kashmir the state is not in a position neighbour.
ference in Srinagar. “Dialogue can and banked exclusively on a milita- to accept there is an issue The period thus will hardly be con-
happen with everybody.” ristic approach to quell the resur- to be resolved, let alone of- ducive to a purposeful dialogue. But this
Similarly, Singh also left things gent militancy. photo: faisal khan fer a hope of a settlement. hasn’t, in any way, lessened the urgency
unclear about the extension of Much will depend on how the All that the BJP is offering is for a political outreach.
ceasefire beyond Ramadhan, an- centre handles the ceasefire, an un- have been killed along the Line of For the dialogue to come through, a dialogue for the restoration of peace. “The union government had bet-
other important announcement predictable proposition. The truce Control (LoC) which is not covered the vague statements by the top BJP With nothing substantive in terms ter speak in unambiguous terms. That
expected to be made during his visit. could witness a sudden withdraw- by the ceasefire. In its presentation leaders will thus hardly help. Such in- of the political resolution coming out is, say it wants a dialogue. Say, it wants
“The suspension of operation is al in case of a successful militant to Rajnath, J&K Police said the truce direct signals will have little resonance of New Delhi, there will be few takers it for the resolution of the political
on so far. We will review it,” Singh strike, which in turn will kill the had been “70 per cent success if not with the separatists who are loath to be in Kashmir for the potential of a future issue in Kashmir. Supplant it’s rig -
said. “Any decision will be taken af- chances of the dialogue. 100 per cent.” seen as one of the sundry stakeholders dialogue to be productive. In fact, some idly ideological position on the state
ter having all opinions are on board. So far, the situation has by and This is unlike the five-month- in Kashmir and consider themselves to Kashmir observers even think that the with an approach rooted in political
Don’t rule out any possibility.” large remained peaceful. Killings of long unilateral ceasefire announced be the sole representatives of the politi- talk of the fresh dialogue is designed realism,” a recent editorial in a local
On its part, Hurriyat too didn’t the local militants have come to a by the former Prime Minister Atal cal aspirations of the people. Nor would to address the vacuum that the centre daily stated. “Things will soon start
show any signs of revisiting its halt. Only one soldier and a civilian Bihari Vajpayee in 2000 during a general offer of dialogue be sufficient fears have set in following the four-year falling in place.”
stance on the engagement, saying have so far died in a militancy relat- which more than 800 people were for them to respond positively. long militaristic policy.
it too wasn’t in a hurry to talk and ed incident. More than ten militants killed. With three major separatist leaders, “What we are witnessing is more a letters@tehelka.com

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