Capitalise on Kashmir

Talking to the Kashmir separatists was always on when the Pakistancreated militancy in the Valley entered its downward spiral towards the late 1990s. The Vajpayee government tried it but the militants themselves pulled back after responding initially, presumably because Islamabad didn’t favour the move. The governor’s address to the state Assembly on Wednesday indicates willingness to talk with the Hurriyat Conference. Presumably both parties of the ruling alliance have agreed on this. If they aren’t, the move could be counter-productive. The Kashmir populace is no longer with the insurgency, but a line to the Hurriyat is likely to be appreciated at the public level. It will show the government is ready to go the extra mile. The point is not whether the Hurriyat remains an influential outfit. It is not. On account of internal turmoil Pakistan too is not right now in a position to meddle in Kashmir effectively, although there would be occasional strikes, as the recent one in Kathua. Therefore, there is an opportunity to show that the government is ready to talk with all sections of opinion in the Valley, the separatists not excluded. The via media of talking to Pakistan in order to work on the Kashmir question has considerably lost its significance. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did his best to engage Islamabad. That didn’t produce results. The present dispensation can afford for now only to engage the people in the Valley.