Talks with Pak a must: Sinha

Urgent and time-bound dialogue is needed with “our own people of Kashmir” who are alienated and are suffering for 70 years, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha said on Monday.

Speaking on the topic ‘Kashmir — Now and Way Forward’ at the Manthan Samvaad series of talks here, Mr Sinha said that the agenda of the BJP-PDP alliance was encouraging when it was formed in 2015, but the promised dialogue process has not begun.

He called for a twotrack approach — political and military — to deal with the Kashmir issue. “Constructive dialogue requires a specific invitation to the identified stakeholders, with a clear agenda and time framework.”

He said there was a strong constituency for peace and the possibility of engaging in dialogue. He suggested that the dialogue must first begin with “our own people in Jammu and Kashmir” and then the dialogue with Pakistan must commence.

“Jammu and Kashmir can become the bridge between India and Pakistan and the Line of Control (LoC) can become the line of peace. India will have to involve Pakistan also in talks over Kashmir at some future date.”

Mr Sinha spoke of the “stifling atmosphere” in which at least four generations of Kashmiris have lived, under the shadow of the security forces. “Army commanders have talked about how political engagement needs to supplement military action. The CRPF should take over internal security in Kashmir and the Army should be at the LoC,” he said.

“Pakistan must be held to the promise it made to former Prime Minister A.B Vajpayee that it will not export terror and violence to India from its territory,” he said.