Opinion
What is the solution to
The Kashmir Imbroglio
by TA Ramesh
Paradise on Earth
Kashmir
is the Switzerland of India. But after the partition of the
Sub-Continent of India, this Paradise on Earth has become the Purgatory
of Inferno. Due to the clash between tourism and terrorism, instead of
becoming the playground of Asia, Kashmir has become the battleground
between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Now under the
pressure of the USA, Pakistan has relinquished the path of war and
accepted to pursue the path of peace and development with India in order
to settle all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir. In this
stage, towards a sensible solution for the Kashmir imbroglio, ice has
been broken between India and Pakistan following the model of the
boundary talks between India and China.
Kashmir Rose
The beautiful Kashmir rose, whenever mishandled, its thorns pricked
whoever it was. Unfortunately, hovering between democracy and
dictatorship, all the Prime Ministers and Generals of Pakistan followed
the same route in dealing with the Kashmir issue playing double game
with double talk with India. Even after Pakistan’s intention is well
exposed to the world, the present Pakistan General still plays double
game with double talk holding double posts! It is impossible to have the
moustache and take the soup too! Of the two, one has to forego one for
the other. Otherwise nothing can be achieved even after 100 years!
Roses, Apples and Tranquility
Beautiful roses, sweet apples and blissful tranquility of Kashmir are
there for everyone to share for the promotion of tourism and trade
between the nations. Globalization gives the opportunity to break the
barriers, unite the people and move forward towards socio-economic
development by freedom, democracy and modernism supported by reforms so
as to achieve social justice and security in the world. Realizing this
trend, all concerned should shun violence and unanimously flight against
the common enemy of poverty and unemployment by providing modern
education, health care and jobs to their people by joint efforts.
Boundary Talk with China
After the hardliners have vanished from the political picture and
settling the border dispute with Russia, China has opened boundary talk
with India wishing that with accommodation and adjustments peaceful
border settlements could be achieved. Maps of the middle sector of India
with an area of 5,180 Sq.Km. have been exchanged. 38,000 Sq.Km. of
Ladakh region and 90,000 Sq.Km. of Arunachal Pradesh are yet to be
discussed after maintaining peace between Indo-Chinese border for the
past 15 years.
Indo-Pak Peace Process
Likewise if Pakistan also deals with India, the dispute over Kashmir can
very well be bilaterally settled soon. But contrarily, no agreements
between India and Pakistan after the Indo-Pak Wars in 1949, 1965, 1971
and 1999 are followed in letter and spirit so far. In short, neither the
UN resolution to conduct plebiscite for the self-determination of
Kashmiri people to solve the Kashmir issue nor Shimla Agreement to solve
it by bilateral talks or Lahore Declaration is followed so far to end
the Kashmir imbroglio. Now after the Cold War and in the aftermath of
9/11 Terrorist Attacks only, due to pressures from all quarters, the
hardliners have decided to abjure violence, terrorism and wars in order
to facilitate the peace talks between India and Pakistan by resuming bus
services between Delhi and Lahore, conducting Cricket matches between
them in Pakistan and India and permitting Pak journalists to visit
Kashmir as a gesture of people to people contact.
Proposals on the Anvil
The proposal to convert the Line of Control into Actual Line of Control
along the 78,000 Sq.Km. area of Pakistan occupied Kashmir was not
accepted either by Pakistan or the Kashmir separatists. Jammu and
Kashmir Liberation Front wants the liberation of Kashmir from India to
form it into a separate nation. National Conference party wants Kashmir
to be with India only having autonomous status. But the All Parties
Hurriyat Conference wants Kashmir to be with Pakistan according to their
proposal of trifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into Jammu, Kashmir and
Ladakh on communal line, which is against the Secular Kashmiriyat
Culture acceptable to all the people of Kashmir. Also, Pakistan’s new
proposals like the division of Kashmir into 7 regions, demilitarization
of sensitive regions and changing the status by joint Indo-Pak
Administration or UN supervision are on the anvil.
Participation of all Representatives of Kashmir
After the January 2004 Islamabad SAARC meeting, India and Pakistan
jointly declared to cooperate for confidence building measures as well
as composite dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues. It is
ascertained that without the participation of all the representatives of
the people of Kashmir including the Kashmiri Pandits, who were solely
responsible for the development of Kashmir and were ruthlessly driven
out of Kashmir (1990) by the militants, no dialogue process will be
successful.
Talks with Hurriyat
Accordingly, the Central Govt. of India has decided to have talks first
with the Hurriyat leaders. There is no unity among the moderate leaders
and the hardliners in the Hurriyat Conference. So far, they are neither
participating in the elections to show to the world whether they really
have wide support or not for their cause nor suggesting acceptable
solution to solve the Kashmir problem.
Autonomous Status
Actually the adamant Hurriyat hurdles are creating boisterous blemish to
the beauty and tranquility of Kashmir in India. So, in the final
analysis, it looks better if neutral autonomous status just as
Switzerland is conferred on Kashmir within the frame work of the India
Constitution supported by Pakistan and China, the Kashmir imbroglio can
sensibly be solved once and for all.
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Kashmir
is the Switzerland of India. But after the partition of the
Sub-Continent of India, this Paradise on Earth has become the Purgatory
of Inferno. Due to the clash between tourism and terrorism, instead of
becoming the playground of Asia, Kashmir has become the battleground
between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Now under the
pressure of the USA, Pakistan has relinquished the path of war and
accepted to pursue the path of peace and development with India in order
to settle all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir. In this
stage, towards a sensible solution for the Kashmir imbroglio, ice has
been broken between India and Pakistan following the model of the
boundary talks between India and China.