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November 7, 2003
Welcome Proposals to Break Indo-Pak Logjam
The recent moves on both sides of the border to break the India-Pakistan logjam and direct the flow of events towards an abiding peace and understanding should be a cause for celebration for all persons of goodwill from that part of the world living now in North America.
Indian leadership is to be complemented for taking the initiatives. Prime Minister Atal Vihari Bajpai offered his hand of friendship to Pakistan on April 18, 2003, which was promptly and wisely grabbed by Prime Minister Jamali of Pakistan.
Relations between the two governments had remained highly strained since December 2001 when the Indian Parliament was attacked by militant Kashmiris causing terror and loss of life. The attack was vehemently condemned by Pakistan too.
Pakistan’s proposal for composite dialogue for the resolution of all contentious issues including Kashmir, Siachin, Wuller Barrage and Sir Creek is unacceptable to India until Pakistan takes concrete measures to put a stop to “cross border terrorism”. Pakistan has already banned several organizations in that portion of Kashmir that is under its control. These setups were thought to be patronizing Kashmiris indulging in violence.
Incidents of violence have, however, continued in Indian-occupied Kashmir. This is attributed to indigenous freedom struggle.
It is pointed out in support of such a contention that over half a million Indian troops stationed in the State have not been able to pacify the people and the Kashmiri groups fighting these troops have been quite open and explicit about it.
This diversion in perceptions between India and Pakistan has created a knotty stalemate. The emotionally charged and accusative speeches by the leaders of the two countries at the last UN General Assembly session had roiled the situation further.
In such an environment, the Indian Foreign Minister’s package of 12 measures announced on October 22 to improve relations, particularly between the peoples of the two countries, has come as a highly welcome surprise. The US, UK, France, Russia, China and many other world powers have hailed the move. Indian authorities can rightly claim credit for it. And, the fairly prompt and positive response of Pakistan does credit to the leadership of that country too. It is an encouraging sign of good sense on the part of Pakistani authorities. They have not indulged in the usual knee-jerk reaction.
Indications are that the two governments have given up their erstwhile game of point and counterpoint or of one-up-manship.
To show their sincerity, the Indian authorities have already taken formal steps to implement several of the dozen measures outlined by Foreign Minister, Yashwant Sinha, on October 22. Almost all of these are calculated to promote people-to-people contacts in the subcontinent.
No doubt, such contacts are no substitute for state-to-state level dialogues and decisions. But, in a long-vitiated environment, such contacts will lead to goodwill and may even affect a palpable reduction in the state level hostilities. It would bring about a badly needed change of direction.
Hardliners on both sides of the border, sectors of society having a vested interest in continued tension, have sustained each other for so many years. The time has probably arrived to break their hold and allow an air of goodwill to blow through the subcontinent.
Most significant of the proposals is the setting up of a bus link between Muzzafarabad and Sirinagar - the capitals of the Pakistan and Indian-administered parts of Kashmir. This would enable, for the first time, the Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control to meet and exchange views. Other proposals include a similar link across the Pak-Indian border at Khokhrapar, a ferry service between Karachi and Bombay, talks on renewal of rail and air links, resumption of sporting ties, and better visa facilities.
In a related decision, the Indian government has decided, again for the first time, to hold bilateral talks with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the organization of Kashmiris struggling for the right of self-determination. It has recently split, of its own accord or under external inspiration, into two factions.
Indian Deputy Premier, L.K. Advani, will be holding talks with the leadership of the faction that does not insist on the presence of Pakistan in such parleys. Still, it is a move forward and one hopes the Indian leadership will meet the aspiration of the Kashmiris so that the indigenous struggle is largely pacified. That would obviate the need for India to maintain a large portion of its army in Kashmir - an avoidable drain on its exchequer.
It may be mentioned in this context that the Indian claim that the struggle in Kashmir has been kept fueled by infiltrates sent by Pakistan does not hold much water. Since 1989 when the armed struggle started at least 50,000 Kashmiris, particularly the guerrillas who prefer to be called freedom fighters, were killed by Indian security forces. This has in no way abated the struggle. Force has only strengthened the aspirations of the Kashmiris for a dispensation of their land according to their own desire and dream. New Delhi has so far been continually increasing its efforts to suppress the agitation through force; it has evidently failed in that and has only now reached the negotiation table.
The move acknowledges the fact that treating the Kashmiris and the APHC as traitors was a folly. Depriving those people of even the special status guaranteed in the Indian constitution was also a folly. Kashmnir - the well-known heaven on earth - is consequently in shambles. Tourism, a major source of the State’s source of income, has almost totally dried up. One hopes that the projected talks with Hurriyat Conference will lead to a sustaining arrangement and the withdrawal of the armed forces.
The political leadership might also be well advised to enter into talks with its Pakistani counterpart. The forthcoming SAARC summit in Pakistan offers a good opportunity for initiating such a dialogue. It was at India’s instance that a specific reference was included year after year in the SAARC declarations for informal consultations. It looks odd now that India is shying away from a dialogue with Pakistan on the sidelines of the summit. Since India has already taken the laudable initiatives mentioned above, it would be in the fitness of things for Mr. Atal Vihari Bajpai to show a similar enthusiasm for talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Mr. Jamali.
Let us keep our fingers crossed and let us pray that saner councils prevail and a friendly atmosphere in the subcontinent is no longer held hostage to the narrow and selfish compulsions of the leaders.
arifhussaini@hotmail.com
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