news details |
|
|
| Manmohan’s new Kashmir initiative may be tougher than Shimla parleys | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 1: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's, bid to resume dialogue with the Kashmiri separatists for the resolution of problems may not be as easy an affair as it was during 1972-74 when the centre initiated talks with the Plebiscite Front leadership which later culminated in the Sheikh-Indira Accord, which was hammered out on November 13,1974. At that stage the slogans of the Plebiscite Front were no longer different from the one raised by the separatists, especially by the hawks among the separatists, during the last over two decades.
In fact the move for involving the Plebiscite Front leadership in the dialogue process was started around 1972 when the head of the Front, Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg, stated that the Front was in favour of the settlement of the Kashmir issue within the ambit of the Constitution of India. It was this statement that encouraged Delhi to initiate talks with Beg, considered to be the most trusted man of Sheikh Abdullah. It took about two years for the Government of India's emissary, G Parthasarthy, and Mirza Afzal Beg to hammer out an agreement which later was called Sheikh-Indira Accord. This very accord allowed the Sheikh a chance to regain power after 22 years' of political wilderness.
Even if it took about two years for the talks to succeed one was not pessimistic about the success of the dialogue. This was so because Delhi had to discuss the issues with one leader, Sheikh Abdullah, who was the tallest political figure in Jammu and Kashmir. While negotiating with G Parthasarthy, Mirza Beg had full support of Sheikh Abdullah which facilitated success in the talks. On the other side also Indira Gandhi was the unchallenged leader and there was hardly any opposition worth the name that could pose a major challenge to her decisions.
This time the story is different, both in Delhi and in Srinagar. Manmohan Singh heads a coalition Government and whatever he decides has to be approved by those political leaders who share power in the centre. The scene in Srinagar is is highly complicated. If Delhi restarts the dialogue process it has not to talk to one or five persons but to more than 20 leaders belonging to the separatist camps. In addition to this the separatists are a divided lot. It is conflict among leaders within the APHC. It is rift between the moderates and the hardliners. Hitherto, the moderates have evinced keen interest in the resumption of talks with the centre. In fact the APHC has been clamouring in favour of the resumption of the stalled centre-Hurriyat dialogue. There has been no response from the hardliners. One report says that Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his close associates are not in favour of a dialogue with the Government of India. They are for resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue where the separatists too were involved.
In 1972-74 the centre had to talk to one leader who represented the aspirations of the majority of people of the state. Against this despite their claim of representing the aspirations of people separatists, whether moderates or hardliners, do not enjoy mass support of the type Sheikh Abdullah enjoyed. Time is no factor. Even if more than a year is required for taking the dialogue process with the separatists to its logical conclusion it is worth testing. But such an option can materialise if Delhi has to talks to a small group of people who have the capacity of moulding public opinion. Chances for such an option seem limited.
Indications from Delhi and Srinagar give hints about attempts being made for motivating separatists to form a small committee whose members will enter into a dialogue with the Government of India. In this respect moves are afoot to persuade Geelani and his associates to accept the offer for talks as indicated by the Prime Minister. If such moves fail to materialise the centre may resume talks with the APHC and other groups. Reports from Delhi have also indicated that the Prime Minister's Office is interested in holding talks, besides the APHC leaders, with JKLF chief, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Chief of Democratic Freedom Party and Peoples' Conference chief, Sajjad Lone. According to these reports,those engaged in back channel diplomacy plan to rope in Molvi Umar Farooq, APHC Chairman and JKLF Chief,Mohd.Yasin Malik,in the initial process. The going for the separatists and Delhi may not be as easy an affair as it was in 1974 when Mirza Afzal Beg and G Parthasarthy hammered out a settlement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
