Start direct talks with all Kashmiri stakeholders
Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh's dismissal of the idea of another set of interlocutors to look into the Kashmir issue derives from past experiences which have, by and large, been disappointing. In fact, the last group of interlocutors was particularly ineffective, if not downright detrimental to Indian interests. Formed by the UPA Government in the aftermath of the stone-pelting crisis in Kashmir in 2010, the group comprised of three eminent civil society leaders. In the two years that they worked on the Kashmir project, the interlocutors made several controversial statements that portrayed them as biased and partisan. Instead of forging consensus, they polarised the situation and were distanced by the Union Government. By the end of it, they were so discredited that even some separatist leaders refused to waste their time meeting with them. In 2012, when the interlocutors submitted their report, it was criticised across the board. The group had made no new suggestions of any significance — they either re-hashed old ideas (including many that had been put out by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Working Groups in 2006) or just passed the buck in most cases. That their biggest recommendation to the Government was the formation of a committee to look into contentious matters speaks volumes.
This is not to say that no interlocutor on Kashmir has ever made a difference. For example, diplomat G Parthasarathy made possible the 1974 Kashmir accord, while in the 1990s, leaders like Rajesh Pilot and George Fernandes played an important role in bridging the gap between New Delhi and Srinagar. The point now is that the time for interlocutors is over. The Government must take charge and act decisively. Previous committees and groups, interlocutors and experts, have already studied the issue in depth; they have produced enough material on the subject; and there are recommendations galore for the Government to tap into.
The question here is: Is the Modi regime ready for actionIJ Or, will it also just resort to diversionary tactics and do little of consequenceIJ The Union Home Minister's statement, thankfully, points to the former. He knows that interlocutor idea is well past its expiry date and, hence, has rightly junked it. But he also made clear that he is not opposed to talks with any of the stakeholders — a clear indication that his stance on interlocutors is not some kind of political grandstanding, that he is serious about resolving the Kashmir issue. At the same time, Mr Singh has also said in no uncertain terms that he will not support unproductive talks which only bring political mileage for some vested interests. This again shows Mr Singh and the BJP-led NDA Government's genuine commitment to the Kashmir issue. In fact, the Home Minister's stand on interlocutors should also be viewed with the Prime Minister’s efforts to cut off the political lifeblood of Hurriyat leaders — ‘moral support' from Islamabad. The Hurriyat leaders hardly represent the people of Kashmir; yet, they have been allowed to wield a disproportionate amount of influence which they have abused to further their individual interests. Steadily, the Modi Government is now removing the deadweight and clearing bottlenecks, so as to pave the path for peace in Kashmir.
