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Kashmir dispute

KASHMIR DISPUTE: Solution within Indian Constitution

Developments have shown that there is a deep rift between Jammu region and the Kashmir–Valley. If they should remain united, a compromise must be found based on mutual respect and trust.

J&K, as it was before partition in 1947, is at present under the rule of three countries (1) China: Aksai Chin and a territory of 5.180 km2 ceded by Pakistan to China; (2) India: J&K State comprising Jammu-region, the Kashmir-Valley and Ladakh (districts Kargil and Leh); (3) Pakistan: Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas).

The population of these specific regions is totally different from each other: culture, history, traditions, language, religion, etc. In J&K State, this is also the case for the three regions: Jammu-region, the Kashmir—Valley and Ladakh region.

In order to find a permanent solution a dialogue is necessary on three levels, as we emphasise already since so many years: (1) bilateral level: between India and Pakistan; (2) national level: between the Government of India, the J&K State Government and the representatives of the civil society of the three regions; (3) internal level: between the different regions of J&K.

According to the separatist leaders, J&K must remain united within the 1947 borders. If they are serious, it is high time the representatives of the three regions of J&K State sit together and have a discussion in depth. Developments have shown that there is a deep rift between Jammu region and the Kashmir-Valley. If they should remain united, a compromise must be found based on mutual respect and trust. In addition, Ladakh may not be forgotten or left out: also here, a dialogue in depth and compromise is needed, as under the present circumstances the LUTF is more than ever stressing the need for obtaining Union Territory status.

Violence has been rejected as an instrument for seeking a solution. Pakistan should stop cross-border terrorism and cross-border infiltration, stop sending money, ammunition and weapons, stop giving training. Pakistan decides over peace or violence: as long as Pakistan supports terrorism, openly or covertly, there cannot be peace in J&K. Without peace, there cannot be a solution.

Priority must be given to end the sufferings of the Kashmiris. This can only be realised by stopping violence and misleading people. They want to have a future and jobs for themselves, for their children. After 19 years of militancy, it is high time to give the growing up generation a chance to have a normal youth and education. The Kashmiris are fed up with violence. For them the big issue remains a peaceful, lasting solution for Kashmir, which can be accepted by India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris, as this is the only way out of this uncertain situation.

If we like it or not (and of course we don’t like it), common bandits and criminals are there in every society. In J&K State however, they are taking advantage of the troubled situation. They are abducting people for money, raping, murdering, extorting money from businesspersons, using mafia practices, etc. under the cover of ‘the movement ’. For them this is a lucrative industry and under the present circumstances it is easy to blame the security forces of all crimes that are committed.

Corruption adds to the misery and sufferings of the common Kashmiri and has a destabilising effect on the normal functioning of the civil society. Kashmiris who have responsible jobs in the police, in the judicial system, in the admini-stration, etc. are supposed to look after the well functioning of the society. By indulging into corruption, they are betraying their own compatriots. It is high time that at all levels in J&K State a serious effort is made to tackle corruption. It is too easy to point to the Centre as being the origin of all evils. One should have the courage and the honesty to recognise the shortcomings in the own system and take the necessary steps to redress the situation.

The peace process came to a standstill after the terrorist attack in Mumbai, in November 08, involving Pakistani nationals. Notwithstanding these hindrances, the composite dialogue must go on. One should not expect a short-term solution, this can only be reached through small steps.

The dissident leaders insist that the Kashmiris must be taken into confidence. This is a justified demand, the question however is who should represent the population of J&K in all its segments and differences. On the other hand, most of these leaders do not have a solution. ‘Let a tripartite dialogue start and a solution will emerge automatically ’, is their view. The Kashmiri Pandits are the original Kashmiri speaking inhabitants of the Valley. They were hounded out of the Valley by militancy in 1990: some 500.000 of them fled to safer places. This exodus changed drastically the demographic composition of the population in the Valley. After more than nineteen years, the return of the Kashmiri Pandits is more and more blurred. Nevertheless, they have their emotional attachment with their birth ground, their roots. They only can return when peace is there and when the rule of law, not the rule of majority is re-installed.

There is no doubt that human rights violations are being committed by the security forces and by the militants. There is also no doubt that not all cases of human rights violations committed by the security forces are disclosed or prose—cuted. It is also a fact that the security forces always are blamed if something happens. Dissident leaders do not mention and are not critical on human rights violations committed by militants. On the other hand, security forces should show restraint in controlling demon-strations: firing on unarmed civilians, even if they are pelting stones or trying to attack them, should be allowed only in extreme situations.

The Kashmiris expect a lot of the new Government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah: he is young, has a vision, hard working, honest, listening to the demands of the people and paying attention to their basic needs. The challenges are multiple: eradicate corruption and improve the functioning of the administration, the educational system, health care, etc. Terrorism must be tackled. The government must bring back secularism, mutual respect. No fundamentalist-religious underground.

J&K State is a trouble tormented state for the last twenty years. Especially in the Valley, the youth grew up in a violent environment. They grew up with the presence of so many security forces, with encounters between militants and security forces, with search and cordon off operations, with human rights violations committed by the security forces and by the militants, with the calls for strikes, harthals, demonstrations, ‘chalos’, shut downs, etc. at the slightest incident by the separatist leaders. Day by day, they witnessed all this for the last twenty years. They didn’t have a normal environment where youth can grow up to a responsible adult. Violence became a part of their ‘normal’ life. This includes stone pelting, provocation of security forces: these are the games they learned to play. Even if peace returns and a lasting peaceful solution has been worked out it will take years to re-educate the youth and to bring them about respect for moral values.

It is often stressed that private industries should come to J&K, as they can create many jobs. This is only possible if the peace process has been resumed, if more CBM are implemented, if prospects for a lasting peace are there. First of all peace must be restored. Private entrepreneurs only have faith in a peaceful solution. if there is no peace there will be no investment: this goes hand in gloves.

The cry for the right of self-determination by some parties in the Valley is supported by Pakistan. However, accession to Pakistan is the only accepted option. Indeed, according to the Azad J&K, Interim Constitution Act, 1974, Par 7. (2): “No person or political party in Azad J&K shall be permitted to propagate against, or take part in activities prejudicial or detrimental to, the ideology of the State’s accession to Pakistan”. This same cry for the right of self-determination is heard in the other regions of J&K, also in the areas under Pakistani administration: all options should be left open, such as accession to India, accession to Pakistan, Azadi (= freedom), total independence, partition.

Pakistan has no stand in J&K. Pakistan invaded J&K and is at the origin of the de facto partitioning of the State. As early as 13 August 1948 the UN Commission for India and Pakistan requested Pakistan to withdraw its troops from the State as a pre-condition for organising the plebiscite. The same Commission in its resolution of 5 January 1949 repeated this request. Until this date, Pakistan has not withdrawn its armed forces and consequently the plebiscite has not been held.

Protecting composite identity must

N.N. Vohra
Governor, Jammu and Kashmir

Sixty-two years ago, India attained freedom from colonial rule and the people of our country became the masters of their destiny. Over six decades have since gone by. While it would be useful to look back and assess how far we have travelled on the path to building a strong, united and prosperous India, it would be profitable to also look ahead and determine new goals.

Despite serious challenges on varied fronts, including several attacks on the territorial integrity of India, we have been able to keep the flame of democracy burning bright. Today, India is looked upon as the largest and most vibrant democracy in the world. Our country has been able to secure significant achievements in different spheres of growth and development. Our biggest achievement has related to harmonising our invaluable cultural heritage and traditional values with science, technology and a liberal and modern approach to life. The story of India has been the story of change with continuity.

Jammu & Kashmir has also marched ahead. Notwithstanding the scars of militancy on the beautiful landscape of our State, the people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve to be congratulated for having boldly confronted the subversive and divisive forces with their abiding commitment to peace and democracy. While the militant activities have been brought down significantly, the State cannot afford to lower its guard. Also, the gains of peace need to be further consolidated through developmental initiatives which are people-driven. The large scale of resources available to the State would not yield the envisaged outcome unless the entire governmental machinery functions with speed, efficiency and honesty to ensure timely implementation of all the important schemes and programmes. It is, therefore, of crucial importance to ensure that the entire focus of the developmental effort results in bringing about a qualitative change in the lives of the common people, on a continuing basis.

The people of Jammu & Kashmir’s vigorous participation in the Assembly Elections last winter, and in the Parliamentary Elections which followed soon thereafter, has demonstrated their deep commitment to the democratic process and, besides, a serious yearning for better governance, particularly in regard to the resolution of their day-to-day problems and prompt redressal of grievances.

It is necessary to recognize that it would not be possible for the State administrative apparatus to timely and efficiently implement various projects unless there is sustained normalcy. Needless to observe, the politics of divisiveness and negativism shall result in seriously disrupting the growth process on all fronts, eroding both individual and institutional performances. It is important to ensure that the Legislature is able to meaningfully deal with its business, providing an orderly atmosphere for dispassionate and bipartisan discussions on important issues of governance which would compel the Executive to deliver honest and efficient governance. With its three distinct regions, and several sub regions, and the people who live in them, J&K is an integrated whole whose composite identity, which evolved over centuries past, must be preserved and protected. Peace and communal harmony must not only be maintained but also systematically nurtured and progressively strengthened.

We want a solution within the Indian constitution, without challenging the Indian sovereignty

Mebhooba Mufti
President, PDP and Member of Parliement

Here in the Valley the fundamental problem is the Kashmir issue. Kashmiris manifest their fundamental discontent in different ways at different times. This explains to a certain extent the present situation. The state government can’t solve the Kashmir-issue, this is in the hands of the Centre, but bring around an atmosphere of reconciliation. If they don’t do this, any issue will go out of proportion, even the slightest incident. People’s emotions can erupt easily as a volcano. In our PDP tenure, we tried to bring more accountability, the healing touch, reconciliation. People reacted positively. After the recent Legislative Assembly elections, there is complete distrust and people don’t believe anymore in this government. We built bridges with the people whereas today we witness incident after incident. The government doesn’t see these realities and blames agencies, my PDP party, the separatists, etc. for all this. Delhi doesn’t acknowledge this reality. Unless and until we don’t address the main issue this will continue. When we were in power, we worked hard to bring about reconciliation but now all this is gone.

It is clear that PDP, like any other political party, has an agenda, a program and we want to realise it. This doesn’t mean that we are promoting violence, chaos, violent demonstrations. We still have the same demands as when we were a coalition partner in the previous government. We are not an obstruction opposition.

The performance of the government is not good at all. Electricity is in a total mess, water is lacking. The Chief Minister is opening and inaugurating schemes that were started under my father. The government is only complicating the situation. PDP invested a lot in bringing back normalcy: all this is gone. Everything came to a standstill. We are organising meetings in J&K and also in the rest of India explaining our programme. There are no militants anymore, so the draconian laws are not necessary anymore and should be abolished. To find a solution security forces should be withdrawn from the cities. An amicable solution must be found between India, Pakistan and Kashmiris from all sides. We need a kind of pressure to resolve the issue through democratic means. One can’t buy the Kashmiris with money and the smallest incident can erupt into mass agitation. We want a solution within the Indian constitution, without challenging the Indian sovereignty. We want internal and interregional self—rule: joint projects, joint trade, joint development, joint water control, joint disaster management, a joint regional council, etc. All this is within the Indian constitution.

Most important aspect is the return of the Pandits

Dr. Riyaz Punjabi
Vice Chancellor, Kashmir Universiy

The biggest challenge for the government is to tackle unemployment, to look for opportunities for educated, well-trained people. The government is seeking jobs outside J&K State. Before, people only wanted government jobs but now they are ready to accept jobs in the private sector. The mindset changed and the industries are responding positively. We must move away from traditional way of learning. We must compete with new technologies. Other challenges are environment, preservation of the lakes and water resources. There is the energy challenge. The government must also bring normalcy: militancy is declining and militants lost public support. People want peace, stability, development and a flourishing economy. Therefore, the conflict must be resolved although it is not clear what will be the outcome.

The most important aspect is the return of the Pandits. They are part and parcel of the Kashmiri society. People want them to come back. Some Pandits returned to their homes and their neighbours welcomed them. The militants do not harm them. They should come back, join the mainstream as a part of our society, and work for peace and progress. Omar Abdullah is a young Chief Minister more in tune with the modern evolution. However, it is too early to make an assessment of his performance.

APHC must start a composite dialogue with the Centre and the State without preconditions

Ab.Rahim Rather
NC Leader and Finance Minister in present Omer government

The first priority for the government is development. Our infrastructure is in a disastrous condition due to almost twenty years of militancy. We have to reconstruct that infrastructure. According to a survey, we have a hydroelectric power generation potential of 20.000 MW. Until now, we generate only 2.000 MW, so only 10% because of shortage of funds although the Government of India is helping us in a big way. We need to improve schools and colleges, roads and bridges, tourist facilities, fruit industry, the health sector, possibilities for employment through industrialisation.

Due to the law and order situation, there is a setback but things are improving and agitation will die down. There are vested interests behind all this. They want to fuel the fire:

- PDP is humiliated by its defeat in the Legislative Assembly elections, in the Lok Sabha elections and in the Raja Sabha elections. They are in opposition on all fronts. They try to destabilise the ruling coalition government. They go for a destructive, not a constructive opposition. We, the coalition partners and the PDP, have no common points. - APHC wants to keep the pot boiling.

Security forces can be withdrawn in a phased manner. If the situation improves completely, there can even be a complete withdrawal. The last years, militancy is on the decline but militants are still there. The situation will definitely improve, I am sure about it. After this, developmental work takes off, things will normalise. People will be satisfied with the economic development.

In NC, we believe that autonomy should be restored in its original form. That will restore confidence. The recommendations of the Centre-State relations Working Group are finalised and should be implemented without delay. Bold steps have to be taken. The Kashmir-issue is basically a political problem. Pakistan must cooperate to make the whole region peaceful. They should stop interference, nobody should support militancy. APHC must start a composite dialogue with the Centre and the State without preconditions. The state government must facilitate this. After the recent Lok Sabha elections, the situation changed for the better. Prime Minister Manmohan is sincere and wants to help J&K. He is in a much stronger and more stable position than ever before.

Stalemate suits only a few people who want to live on the misery of Kashmiris

Azam Inqilabi Patron, Mahaz-e-Azadi

Our prognoses suggests that it is time when ossified ideas about the Kashmir tangle should give way to progressive, futuristic, viable and practicable concept of empowerment of Kashmiris who find themselves sandwiched between obdurate forces of assimilation. Perpetual subjugation has generated sentiments of resurgence, abreaction and convulsion here. Youngsters who find themselves overwhelmed by disillusionment want to have recourse to ultra-ism in dissent, unwholesome an urge indeed.

Think tanks which are engaged in an exercise to find a way out of the Kashmir impasse should bring home to those who matter in the higher echelons of power that the politics of prevarication, procrastination, recrimination and polemics will simply confound the Kashmir imbroglio. It is time when all of us should, without dissembling and disparaging, adopt a truly humanistic course of thinking regarding the peaceful, honourable and durable solution of the Kashmir issue. This is what vision and wisdom demands of all of us.

Kashmir turmoil serves the purpose of a metaphysical fountainhead of inspiration to those who are hell-bent on creating total chaos and commotion through violent ultra-ism. Its domino effect creates orchestration in the surrounding areas where dissidents are already feeling fulminated for various reasons. We genuinely believe that free Kashmir will help the South Asian civil society in retrieving itself from the whirlpool of mistrust, internecine wars, belligerency and unrest. It is no romanticism of ours. It is, in fact, a sacred dream we cherish.

Kashmiri leaders should gird up their loins for a decisive intellectual battle against those who want to perpetuate the status quo here. Come what may, they should break the deadlock and log-jam through all peaceful means and methods. Stalemate suits only a few people who want to live on the misery of Kashmiris. We hereby once again reiterate our stand and stance vis-à-vis the Kashmir tangle. Let Kashmir be demilitarised on either side of the LoC; let the two parts of war-affected Kashmir be reunified to ultimately facilitate the installation of a genuinely elected parliament where patriotic democrats will determine the nature of relations with the neighbouring countries especially India and Pakistan. Repose trust in God Almighty and poignantly tread the path of optimism and victory.

World order has changed.As a result political leaders and the common people want to settle disputes peacefully

Shabir Ahmed Shah Chairman, J&K Democratic Freedom Party

The Centre doesn’t want the two APHC factions to reunite as they want to keep them weak. Unless and until we are united our voice will not be heard. Our leader, Shabir Shah wanted to make it easy for the Government of India to speak to one united organisation, one voice, one demand. If there is unity among the separatist leaders, India has no argument anymore not to know to whom to talk. As our leader, Shabir Shah, was about to bring reunification they arrested him on false grounds and now he is in jail for almost nine months. India is not prepared to listen to the Kashmiris, not ready to talk as they know that the Kashmiris will reject Indian occupation. From the beginning India wanted to continue its military occupation.

Omar Abdullah is a young boy. He doesn’t understand the situation. Since he is Chief Minister the situation is going from bad to worse. Everywhere there is fighting, stone pelting. Although Omar Abdullah is often visible in the media, the government is not seen by the people. Good governance means peace and this is not there. Omar Abdullah is only using force to make people silent: this is not good administration or governance.

Political uncertainty is at its peak because people are being killed, arrested, gang raped. In Shopian the whole area is in cry and still waiting the culprits to be arrested but the police is helping the criminals. Evidence has been destroyed. This resulted in more than one month of protests. People are trying their best to express their aspirations and inner feelings through peaceful means. Police beats them mercilessly, arrests them, kills them. The Kashmir issue is a political problem: people demand a solution, they want to be heard, they want a final settlement. All this was promised by the Government of India but they don’t keep their promise. The popular leadership is arrested again and again. In his lifetime, Shabir Shah was for more than 25 years in jail.

People are looking towards their leadership. World order has changed.As a result political leaders and the common people want to settle disputes peacefully through democratic means. Kashmiris took the gun because India never was serious or honest. Kashmiris got tired of this and therefore they took the gun. The last two decades were a bad period. More than 100.000 people have been killed. Now people look at their leadership to come forward with a solution, with a political agenda because they realise force can’t settle the issue. Kashmiris are expecting the world community coming to rescue them. The world community must feel our pain and compel India and Pakistan to talk to the Kashmiri leadership and try to find a solution for the problem. Kashmiris are disappointed because India is just hoodwinking world opinion. This disappointment creates new challenges and problems for the government. They will again use undemocratic means and this will lead to a disaster. If our reason and logic is not hear, those people who don’t believe in democracy will be strengthened. This is our greatest concern.

Four points programme of Musharraf is the best possible start Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
Chairman, All Party Hurryet Conference (M)

The Indian Home Minister and the J&K Government stated that they want to solve the issue politically. But in reality they are not keen to move for talks about this political issue. Their approach is to oppress all demonstrations with violence. This is a military approach and results in violent reactions by the people.

Everyone was cheerful about the elections participation was high and prospects were good. Now after six months, all this is in shambles. Those having vested interests don’t want peace or the problem to be resolved:

— Politicians and bureaucrats of the state take advantage of the troubled situation resulting in corruption, unaccountability, etc.

— Security forces, especially the army, are receiving better equipment and a higher budget.

— Militant organisations receive money from Gulf States and the Moslem world.

— Agencies can continue to play their dirty games. In all this, a lot of money is involved. The common Kashmiri is suffering. APHC wants a solution through five point proposal plan:

— Repeal draconian laws

— Gradual demilitarisation starting in the townships and cities.

— Encouraging people to people contact. Leadership from both sides should sit together.

— Encouraging more trade.

— India and Pakistan should jointly start a process reaching out to the people, revive the peace process.

We are ready to start the dialogue but first we expect some initiatives from the Government of India. The government of the state is a puppet government without power. Here it is a police state and all is decided in Delhi. India and Pakistan should resume the dialogue and if Delhi decides to come forward the dialogue can move ahead.

I am still convinced that the four points programme of Musharraf is the best possible start in the present situation. For us, peace is a distant dream and there is so much India can do in reaching the people. India should give some positive signs, show some goodwill. Indians don’t understand what the Kashmir-issue is. They are biased. They don’t under-stand our demands, they don’t understand we want freedom.

Under Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, there was a sense of security but this is over

Hashim Qureshi
Chairman,J&K Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP)

The media are not giving honest information, they are manipulating the news. I am against all these harthals as they only harm the common man. I oppose Geelani, as there are other means to pursue the movement. This is not the way to do it.

The problem of Omar Abdullah is that he is not a man who can go out and listen to the people. Bureaucrats, the establishment and his own men surround him. It is not a people’s government. In addition, he is not as independent as it should be: he is in a coalition with Congress Party having its own agenda. A corrupt establishment not wanting him to be successful as this serves their interest surrounds Omar Abdullah. He promised to create jobs, but now after more than six months not even one has been created. He promised so many other things but nothing has been done. Only those who render lip service have access to him. He lost contact with the grass root level. The present Chief Minister is as the previous Chief Ministers. He is trying to change the system but he is not strong enough. Under Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, there was a sense of security but this is over. Now, everybody is crying, from bottom to the top. Some powers are there who don’t want peace or Omar Abdullah to succeed. If this situation continues, he will not stay long.

Many issues can lead to agitation as we see now in Shopian. Two young women were raped and murdered. The authorities covered this crime and destroyed evidence. This resulted in an Amarnath like agitation. This issue was given on a golden plate and all positive development is gone. Agitation is prolonged because of the killing of four youths during demonstrations in Baramulla. This is a vicious circle.

There can be no peace until the Kashmir issue is discussed between the three parties. For the interest of the whole region the Kashmir issue must be solved, uncertainty must be stopped. It is better to talk and to solve the problem before it is too late. There were round table conferences and Working Groups. They gave reports and made recommendations. After so long time not a single one has been implemented. How can we expect the situation to improve under these circumstances? When moderates can’t succeed, automatically you open the door for extremism. If this is not understood, it will lead to a disaster.

Challenges are manifold

Prof. Dr. Siddiq Wahid
Vice Chancellor, Islamic Universty of Science And Technology

There are many ups and downs. They maintain a balance. I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic and just trying to understand things. The psyche of the Kashmiris and the socio-political system in Kashmir are very complex. Therefore, one must be very mature to analyse the situation. We must first know what is going on, only then we can analyse the situation. We don’t have good reporting: any good journalism, only unreliable journalism. The media must understand that journalism is a responsible job.

The whole J&K problem is rooted in 1947 and since no serious efforts were made to find a final settlement. Challenges are manifold. Politicians must deliver whether in the ruling coalition or in the opposition. They owe it to the people of the state. They should not politicise everything. Health care, education, improving infrastructure, etc. should not be politicised. It is bad if the opposition practises negative politics. They must focus on the benefit of the people and not just oppose every initiative of the ruling coalition. I have the impression this maturity is not there among the politicians. There should be intellectual integrity.

Omar Abdullah, as a person, is certainly a ray of hope. He understands his business and has his own priorities. He really thinks positively and for him it is a lonely task, certainly in J&K State. The biggest problems here are negligence and lack of transparency. Human rights violations are there and they are not addressed properly: this is criminal behaviour. Now people are beginning to speak. For them enough is enough: don’t monkey us.

The high turnout in the Legislative Assembly elections was a clear message to the separatist leaders that they should come forward with a good plan. For Delhi, this is a dangerous phase as Kashmir is all about sovereignty and of course, this matters.

I see the future positively:

— We have a young Chief Minister who wants to take good initiatives.

— We have a government in Delhi having enough mandates for moving forward with the Kashmir issue. If India doesn’t solve this problem India can’t become a world player as it must first solve internal issues.

— We have a government in Pakistan feeling it is time to resolve the Kashmir issue. Internal instability will remain unless this is solved. Kashmiris should be involved with sincerity, substantial, real, transparent, consistent. Let people contribute, let there be clarity and altruism. All this is just a question of political will.

There is a kind of victim mentality among the Kashmiris, always blaming Delhi instead of analysing the ground reasons

Bashir Manzar
Editor,‘Kashmir Images’

I don’t understand what happens now, why this much anger. A few months back we witnessed this high turnout in the Legislative Assembly elections and recently in the Lok Sabha elections. Once the elections were over all agitation started: the slightest incident leads to mass protests. I don’t understand this. I think that the basic problem is that people are dissatisfied. People don’t ask questions of who is responsible. If something goes wrong or is not up to their expectations, they look to Delhi for reasons. There is a kind of victim mentality among the Kashmiris, always blaming Delhi instead of analysing the ground reasons. On the other hand, the Government of India hasn’t been able to engage with the people of Kashmir. They don’t know what the issue is, what are our concerns, what are our needs.

Omar Abdullah is just six months Chief Minister of the state: this is too early to make a judgement but people become already impatient after such a short period. The problem with him is that he is not close to the people, not close to the ground level. At the beginning of the Shopian tragedy, he was in Delhi for the installation as Union Minister of his father, Farooq Abdullah. In stead, he should have rushed back to the Valley and gone on the spot to console the people. However, he didn’t and the press conference he gave at his return from Delhi gave a completely wrong message and triggered the whole agitation. He didn’t visit any of the places where agitation was high, whereas Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti from PDP always were there to reach out to the people. They knew how to tackle such situations.

Because the present situation is so bad, the first priority for the state government should be restoration of law and order. The Members of the Legislative Assembly should go to their constituencies and talk to the people. They should tell them what happens and discuss with them. This would be a positive political input. At present, everything is stopped because of lack of law and order. There is chaos and a kind of anarchy: mobs are terrorising the common Kashmiri. APHC and perhaps also PDP are responsible for this: young boys are being paid to provoke police and security forces. I wonder where the parents of these boys are. I have also the impression this is a kind of class–war: the lower class against those who are doing better.

PDP should do a constructive opposition. Try to cooperate and help the government to appease the situation. However, unfortunately they are not doing this. It is PDP against the NC–Congress coalition government. The situation was much identical under the previous PDP–Congress coalition government and NC in opposition. The opposition parties don’t help the ruling coalition: in politics, they don’t do this.

A peaceful, political solution has to be there

Shakeel Qalandar
President Federation Chamber of Industries

The aim of the ‘Federation Chamber of Industries’ is to work for the promotion and growth of business enterprises (production and services) in the state and to protect their interests by raising our voice against laws that could harm us.

We want self–reliance and balance in trade by creating more and more enterprises. Now we import goods worth Rs 300 billion from other Indian states. Our export is only Rs 60 to 70 billion (handicrafts, horticulture, minerals, raw products, etc.) resulting in a deficit of Rs 23 to 24 billion. Out of the imported goods, some 50% could easily be produced in the state. The plight with us is that we expand the private sector and create jobs. We convinced the government to be more open for private entrepreneurship. Only then, more jobs can be created. We provide some one million jobs and we are a larger entrepreneur than the government. If the government would help and support us, we could double this and unemployment will be over. Too many projects in the state are given to Indian entrepreneurs instead of Kashmiri companies.

Whatever resources we have, they have never been explored or exploited for the benefit of the people of Kashmir:

— We could generate 22.000 MW of hydelpower. We are generating only 758 MW.

— Minerals like blue sapphire and limestone could produce income of billions of Rs.

— Agriculture and horticulture could be tremendously improved.

— There is no substantial move for plantation of forests: we are forced to get timber from abroad.

— People with handicraft skills are dying out.

— Tourist sector is down because of the turmoil.

— We have to import poultry, cattle, sheep.

Kashmiri alienation from India is there. We are lagging behind other Indian states.They developed after 1947, not J&K because of the strained relations with the Centre. We don’t discuss staying with India or accession to Pakistan or independence but the right of self-determination has been granted to us from the beginning. This has not been fulfilled until now. We never forgot this and the situation reversed in 1989. Sheikh Abdullah always advocated an independent buffer state between India and Pakistan. He never advocated total accession to India but only the three aspects: communication, foreign affairs and defence. A peaceful, political solution has to be there with the intervention of international help and support. It is a responsibility of all responsible nations to help to bring the different parties together and to facilitate the way towards a solution.

Common people have other needs than azaadi

Taj Mohi-Ud-Din
Congress Leader and Minister in present Omer government

Our main challenges in the short and the long run are socio–political issues and the Government of India is committed to help us in all fields. The main socio-political issues are:

— development of the common man;

— securing food supply;

— developing agricultural activities, and

— improving rural connectivity and water supplies.

It has to be emphasised that 80% of the population of our state lives in rural areas. There is a big gap between the rural and urban areas. Separatist slogans and calls for harthals and strikes give the impression to have more impact in the cities but this is not so. People stay home for their own safety not out of sympathy with the separatist leaders. Sajjad Lone, one of the APHC leaders, partici-pated in the Lok Sabha elections and failed miserably. I am convinced that this is the same for all separatist leaders: let them come out to contest elections, let them show first they have popular support. After being elected they can resign but at least then they would have proved that people are supporting them.

Common people have other needs than azaadi. They want jobs, electricity, drinking water, good roads and above all peace. The separatist leaders don’t realise this and continue with their emotional slogans. If we want freedom or azaadi or independence we must first create economic independence in order to have a viable state. Rs 14.000,- tax per year per capita is needed for running the state. Who is prepared to pay this for the sake of azaadi? The main source of income is tourism. Every year, in the peak of the tourist season some separatists launch slogans and are destroying tourist business. In this, only the Kashmiris are harmed, not the Government of India. They are just harming themselves. It is as if they are committing suicide.

It is too early to assess the performance of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah: he is only six months in power and we just had Lok Sabha elections. In addition we were working with a limited number of ministers. On 11 July 2009, thirteen additional ministers will be sworn in. This will enhance the functioning of the government.

Eruption of harthals and demonstrations will always be there as the separatist leaders are stirring up emotions and manipulating the truth. In the case of Shopian the government is honest. We have nothing to hide and we play with open cards. I am afraid of the separatist cards. They don’t like us and they use any means to harm us. Young boys are paid by APHC to destabilise and to create chaos. Our future will be the same till Pakistan stops interference. There is nothing new and azaadi is an old, unrealistic slogan. Pakistan should just leave us alone, keep their own business and solve their own problems. We are capable to solve ours without their interference.

PDP is in opposition now. They oppose every lock, stock and barrel. Every time when we, the coalition government, propose something they will give us the trouble. That is their job. We are elected by the people to rule, they to oppose. We have no regret, that is politics.

Buddhists, are politically divided and this weakens our position

Thupstan Chhewang
Former MP and leader Ladakh Union Territory Front (Lutf)

PDP is spearheading the agitation in the Valley because they are frustrated with the results of the recent elections and because they are out of power. Mehbooba Mufti stirs up any incident resulting in an irrational reaction from some corners. This is very unfortunately because everything was peaceful. PDP is using young children. They are paying them to throw stones and to create chaos. The elderly people are cornered.

Omar Abdullah had convinced the Centre to replace CRPF by local J&K Police but PDP doesn’t want this to happen, doesn’t want Omar Abdullah to succeed. The latter is very sincere but he is inexperienced in this situation. He has a lot of support from the Centre, especially from Sonja Gandhi. Farooq Abdullah, his father, wants him to make a full term of six years but within NC, he should have more support from the older leaders. Omar Abdullah had set up targets and priorities but due to the law and order problems, he was not able to work them out properly. He wants to improve the administration, to control his ministers, to curb corruption, to speed up realisations in the power sector.

It is true, LUTF is in defence and we witnessed some setback in the recent elections but we will regain our position. We have mainly support in the rural areas. Ladakh must become Union Territory within India. We want development and fully empowerment of the regions. In our heart, we know it is very difficult to be delinked from the rest of J&K but we will continue to fight for Union Territory status, as we want to rule ourselves. In the meanwhile, we are ready to accept intermittent solutions on the way to our final aim.

Relations between India and Pakistan are at a very low level. Negotiations should resume but India is too soft towards Pakistan and as a result, people are putting pressure on Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister. There can be no dialogue with Pakistan until and unless there is a settlement regarding terrorist activities in Pakistan. Under Musharraf, there was some hope that progress would be there but this is not anymore with the present weak government in Pakistan.

The Buddhist minority in Kargil district is just treated as slaves. The Muslim Shia majority community is supported by Iran. We don’t have a cremation ground in Kargil and we are not allowed to maintain our temple there. They are just behaving like Taliban. In Leh Muslim are aggressive and expansionists. In a few years, the Muslims will outnumber the Buddhist. We, Buddhists, are politically divided and this weakens our position.

We are the victims of all this and we are sandwiched between the security forces and the militants

DR.NUSRAT ANDRABI
Member,J&K Muslim Waqf Board

Since 2001 there are less strikes not because of good governance but because infiltration reduced. The urban areas calmed down, not the rural areas and the movement is certainly not gone. With the Amarnath issue, agitation flared up again. BJP tried to benefit from this agitation and to make it a communal issue. Separatist leaders made it a very big issue in the Valley: during three months, normal life was impossible. After the Ramadan agreement, the situation cooled down and came back to normal. Nevertheless, what happened created bitterness and it was a grave mistake to block the highway in Jammu.

In the recent Legislative Assembly elections, Nov/Dec 08 authorities and politicians didn’t expect the high turnout because of the Amarnath agitation. People wanted good governance and the elected Legislative Assembly Members have a direct impact. Therefore, people came out in large numbers. However, for the Lok Sabha elections in April/May 09 people were reluctant to participate, as the members of the Indian Parliament have nothing to do with good governance in J&K State. The low turnout was in favour of NC: they were able to capture the three parliament seats in the Valley.

The only presence of so many security forces is frustrating. They are omni–present. We don’t want India or Pakistan. We want freedom. The alienation between India and the Kashmiris has widened. Pakistan took advantage of the situation and supports many organisations to create chaos. We are the victims of all this and we are sandwiched between the security forces and the militants. People are mentally prepared for an honourable solution. Again, dialogue must start sincerely, not for gaining time. Political uncertainty is here since 1947. There is no trust because of so many manipulations. The slogan for the right of self–determination is there just to keep the pot boiling knowing very well that this is not realistic. All this is harming the Kashmiris: the economy is in shambles, our resources are fading, normal life is crippled, there is uncertainty all over.

There are so many challenges for the new government:

— J&K Police should replace CRPF and other para-military forces;

— Infrastructure has to be rebuild;

— The environment has to be protected;

— Water problems have to be solved by updating the water treaty between India and Pakistan;

— The civil society has to be strengthened;

— There must be more transparency;

— The Centre must be convinced to resume the dialogue notwithstanding the fact that the situation in Pakistan is very bad and unpredictable, and

— Some peaceful resolution has to be found for the Kashmir issue. India is certainly not preparing for a war with Pakistan.

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