Agenda 2019: NYAY for Jammu & Kashmir

Four phases of the world’s biggest democratic exercise – elections to the 17^th Lok Sabha – have been completed. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by Mr Narendra Modi are extensively banking on the National Security plank to get back to power for one more term. Mr Modi has been saying since the first day of campaign that he has used an ‘Iron Fist’ in dealing with Pakistan. He refers to the surgical strikes done by the Indian Air Force in Balakot as an example of his tough policy. Despite bringing National Security issues to the fore, he refuses to speak about one of the biggest security challenges: Jammu and Kashmir.

In my previous essays: ‘Pulwama Attack: Time to Raise a Few Questions & Explore the Reasons’ and ‘The Turmoil In India’s Paradise’, I have written in detail about the current Government’s policy with respect to Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. In this essay I wish to share what I feel the new Government must do with regard to J&K.

The Two Aspects

The problem of Jammu and Kashmir has two aspects: The external aspect which involves Pakistan and the Internal aspect which has many local issues. I wish to be brief on both aspects.

The External Aspect

I would not be wrong to say that India-Pakistan relations are at an all time low. Pakistan’s hostility towards India continues. Their treatment of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family is testimony to the hostility. They have adopted sponsoring of terrorism as state policy. In the aftermath of Pulwama attacks the relations soured further and escalated to a war-like level.

The new Government must devise a long term strategy that is sustainable in consultation with senior ex-diplomats and security experts with regard to Pakistan. Such a strategy will help in building pressure on Pakistan to shun state sponsored terrorism. As General Deependra Singh Hooda has suggested, economic isolation and tactical diplomacy must form a large part of this strategy, coupled with cross border military operations whenever required.

However, we must not forget that dialogue is the only solution to the external aspect of J&K problem. Getting Pakistan to the negotiating table along with pursuing a tactical long term strategy will help a great deal. The dialogue must be structured and must be held in an atmosphere where there are no cross-border firing instigated by Pakistan. We must pursue talks at Foreign Secretary level and avoid Foreign Minister or PM level talks unless there are any substantial results. India must also try to engage directly with the military leadership in Pakistan through our National Security Advisor.

We cannot ignore the fact that Pakistan has leased large parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) to China. If we delay in engaging Pakistan through a structured dialogue, there is a risk of the issue converting from bilateral to a trilateral issue.

The Internal Aspect

The problem in Jammu and Kashmir, which has plunged into turmoil once more since 2016, in also largely internal. Though there was peace in the Kashmir Valley before July 2016, there was a silent build-up and Burhan Wani’s encounter provided the flash point of the anger to erupt. The valley has been gripped by a large scale sense of anger and alienation. This problem has become worse with growing radicalisation of youth in the name of religion. This is the main reason for civilians interfering in military operations through stone pelting, something which is being exploited fully by the separatists.

This atmosphere has lead more youth to join the ranks of militants. From a low of 16 in 2013, the number of youth joining militants has increased to about 200 in 2018. It must be noted that the shelf life of these militants is hardly a fortnight and doesn’t cause a security problem. But their funerals attract huge crowds, which fuels the sense of anger and alienation apart from serving as ground for higher fresh recruitment. The present Government has rubbed salt on the wounds by raising issues such as Article 370 and Article 35A, which vitiates the atmosphere further.

First thing the new Government must do is to put the contentious issue of Article 370 and Article 35A in cold storage. It must also engage in a dialogue with all three regions of the state: Jammu, Kashmir and Ladak. There are numerous Working Group recommendations to bridge the gap between the three regions of the state. The Government must implement these recommendations on priority in order to gain the confidence of the people before initiating a dialogue. Once these recommendations are visible on ground, free and fair elections must be held for the legislative assembly.

The new Home Minister must approach to the problems of Kashmir with a large heart instead of muscular hyper-nationalist and iron fist approach. New Delhi must enhance the role of the state government by slowly decreasing the presence of Army and Central Forces in the Valley and entrust more tasks to the J&K police. Apart from this, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) must be reviewed keeping in mind the security as well as human rights requirements in the spirit of Supreme Court’s judgement.

Dr Manmohan Singh had initiated a number of confidence building measures such as UMEED. These schemes must be implemented with renewed vigour and other such innovative measures must be taken. Apart from this, the new Government must be willing to talk to all stakeholders in the state without any conditions (but within the ambit of the Constitution). Perhaps, a new team of interlocutors, on the lines of the one appointed in 2010 by Mr Chidambaram, can be appointed with a stipulated time-frame.

If these things are done expeditiously and with commitment, I am confident that peace will return to India’s paradise.