Ramzan move a ‘farce’, spell out road map: Separatists
day after the Indian government ordered security forces to suspend counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, senior separatist leaders declined to welcome the move and said the Centre needed to do more.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the valley’s head cleric, said in a phone interview that a month of “no action is a farce’’, while chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Yasin Malik, described the suspension as a “mazaak” (joke).
Civilians were more optimistic, hoping the suspension of military operations will last beyond Ramzan, help improve the situation, and lead to talks between the Centre and the separatist leaders.
“This is a welcome step but it should continue beyond Ramzan as well. Militants, civilians and security forces are dying here every day. Bloodshed is no solution,” said Irfan Ahmad, a garment shop owner in Lal Chowk.
But serving and retired army officers who have had stints in the troubled state felt the one-month halt would have no impact on the army’s long-term operational strategy in the Valley. Some said only militants would benefit from the political move, which came on a request from chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
The suspension comes amid widespread unrest that has rocked the Valley, where shutdowns have become routine. As many as 41 people — including militants, civilians and security personnel — were killed in violence across Kashmir in April. This month, 23 people have died, including a tourist who died on May 7 in a stone pelting incident.
The Mirwaiz said the onemonth halt does not reflect a policy change towards Kashmir. “Even if we call it a good step, government has to be clear on what next. That seriousness is missing.” “What is the road map ahead (of the suspension)? Is the government of India doing us a favour by saying we won’t kill you for a month but will start killing you again once the holy month of Ramzan is over? Will it be bullets and pellets again after this?’’ he asked.
The Mirwaiz and Malik agreed that a dialogue between the government and the Kashmiri leadership and tripartite talks (involving Pakistan) could be the only solution to the problem.
“Whether it’s the political movement or the militancy, this is all an offshoot of the Kashmir issue; you can’t ignore the main issue and address the offshoot,’’ Malik said.
Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani joined the Mirwaiz and Malik in releasing a statement that said it was illogical and unfortunate to “offer relaxation in killings for one month and then restart it with impunity”.
“The people of Kashmir, as a peace loving nation, believe in permanent peace rather than a relaxation in killing for one month. People want a permanent halt on war thrusted by India,” they said in the statement.
A Kashmiri academic said he wasn’t surprised that the separatists were sceptical, calling it “an indication of the way people have been pushed to the wall.”
“It (separatist stance towards the suspension) has a certain validity but the question to be asked is: have we reached a point where even a ceasefire announcement has become irrelevant from one viewpoint or the other,” said professor Siddiq Wahid, former vice chancellor of the Islamic University of Kashmir.
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ALERT BEFORE PM VISIT
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir were put on high alert on Friday ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the state on Saturday. All entry and exit points into Srinagar and Jammu have been sealed by police and Central Reserve Police Force. Makeshift barricades and mobile bunkers have been put up. Officials said peripheral security was being provided by the army. PTI
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