Editorial
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| | Pushing forward peace process | | Need for CBMs to create a conducive climate for removing roadblocks | | Happily, the mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, with the solitary exception of the Hindutva brigade, have been increasingly stressing on a just, democratic and peaceful solution of the Kashmir problem both for India-Pakistan friendship and cooperation and peace in the region. Even the chief minister Omar Abdullah has been lately saying that the peace in Kashmir depends on a solution of the Kashmir problem. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the slow progress in relation to the composite dialogue between the two countries for resolving all their outstanding disputes, Omar has been stressing for a positive move forward. Obviously he wants the leadership of the two countries to walk the talk. Undisputedly the dialogue process between the two countries has been moving at snail’s pace with frequent breakdowns caused by extraneous factors. While hawks in the two countries and others in politics and administration, who have a vested interest in perpetuating conflict, have been creating roadblocks on the way to peace the political leadership of the two countries too has failed so far to demonstrate their will and capacity to carry forward the dialogue process to its logical end. They invariably lower their guard under pressure from the fundamentalists and chauvinists in the two countries. Primarily it is the trust-deficit that stands in the way of going ahead and push forward the peace process.
While on some of the issues, particularly improving the trade relations, there has been some progress on the major issue of Kashmir, which has been the cause of the prolonged conflict between the two neighbouring countries there has been no move forward. The basic flaw in the approach is the failure of the leaders of the two countries to take the people of the troubled state on board for finding a just, peaceful and negotiated solution of the Kashmir problem. Even on the question of Kashmir-related confidence building measures the progress has been very slow. The measures like opening of few routes across the Line of Control or resumption of trade and travel, though welcome, have been half-hearted and left halfway. There is need to reopen all traditional routes to facilitate trade and travel and the very system calls for major changes to ensure hassle-free trade and travel by the citizens of J&K across the LoC. The withdrawal of the troops of the two countries from Siachen Glaciers could have demonstrated their in pursuing the dialogue process to its logical conclusion.
The most important of CBMs is to put an end to the human rights abuses being committed by the forces in Jammu and Kashmir‘. The two countries must take steps for the demilitarization on their respective side of the divided state. While New Delhi has to understand the necessity of scrapping Armed Forces Special Powers Act and remove the armed forces from the civilian areas, it is for the State chief minister to take necessary steps for putting an end to all repressive measures against the people and remove curbs on the democratic rights of the citizens, if his concern for Kashmir solution and peace is genuine. The brutal police actions against the people protesting against human rights abuses or administrative lapses and failures in fulfilling their basic needs, unabated human rights abuses and frequent arrests of political leaders to prevent their movements create major roadblocks on the way to peace. The chief minister should also take immediate steps to scrap all draconian laws like Public Safety Act, release all prisoners and remove all curbs on the democratic rights of the people, if his concern for pushing forward the dialogue process and for peace is genuine. |
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