J&K needs ambience for talks, and a point man

The appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir is a gingerly first step. The move’s welcome as it shows the Centre’s inclination to set up talks after a sustained scorched earth policy to isolate separatists, take out militants.

But it’s a half-measure, or stage-one of the dialogue architecture envisaged by the Centre. The interlocutor, former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma, isn’t a politician. He’s a political appointee whose mandate is unclear except that he’d engage with all stake-holders.

There’s no timeframe for the completion of the task assigned to him. It’s assumed that he’d make a report to the Centre that, in turn, will evolve a modus vivendi to take the process forward, factoring in the political, social and security implications of issues under focus.

A start it is of a difficult journey with its share of bumps, potholes and unavoidable speedbrakers. But the core concern one often hears in the Valley has to be resolved right away: the Kashmiri Muslims’ sense of being abandoned and despised by a vocal section in the rest of India.

The alienation compounded each night by belligerent television programming and incidents of majority vigilantism has afflicted even those who abhor militancy. “There’s a sentiment for dialogue with dignity,” remarked Srinagar-based journalist, Zafar Miraj.

For dialogue to gain traction, the interlocutor will have to speak to all — including separatists — without preconditions, said Miraj. “But first a climate of trust has to be built by putting a stop to parochial political statements (from Jammu) and vile television propaganda.”

Towards the same objective, the Centre and the State government would do well to resort to some creative unilateralism even as the interlocutor goes about his task.

A ‘human touch’ administrative approach could smother the pain of counter-terror operations and pre-empt what the security forces fear: recurrence of a Burhan Wani-type trigger that provoked unprecedented outrage.

Now what could be that balm, that human face? Creating jobs for youth is one obvious option to keep them aloof from guns and intoxication.