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| Kashmiris welcome talks, seek restoration of tele ties | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 25: The Valley people, by and large, welcomed the resumption of secretary level talks between India and Pakistan notwithstanding the cautious reaction of the separatist camp. The separatists while welcoming the talks had sought a berth at the negotiating table saying talks without participation of the `representatives of Jammu Kashmir’ would yield nothing.
Most of the people who talked to Early Times wished the dialogue process success. However, some tangible measures in the shape of Jammu Kashmir specific confidence building measures (CBMs) have been suggested by civil society members and peace activists.
An Advocate who was denied permission to board the Muzaffarabad bound bus said the process of getting a seat in the Karvaan-e-Aman was too cumbersome. “The bus has not helped the divided families. Unless the process is smoothened, the bus will not serve any purpose”, he said.
The lawyer’s cynicism is not totally unfounded. There have been times when the bus has traveled to Muzaffarabad without having any passenger on board. Very few people have boarded the bus since it was launched. People find it easy to reach Muzaffarabad via Wagah rather than traveling in the bus.
Bus service has already been launched and now the authorities want a rail link between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad to connect the divided families. “It can be done effectively by restoring the telephonic links across the LoC”, said Shakeel Ahmad, a college teacher. “Restoration of tele links can be the best and forceful CBM”, he added.
Pertinent to mention, telephonic links between the state and Pakistan administered Jammu Kashmir were severed in 1990 when militancy commenced. Strangely enough, the snapping of telephonic ties have not helped much as nothing has been done to stop incoming calls from Muzaffarabad and other important towns on other side of the LoC.
“The snapping of ties also makes no sense in the internet age when you have the world at your finger tips”, said a Jammu Kashmir Bank employee whose father was externed from the state for political reasons way back in 1958. “I want to see my father’s grave who died in Muzaffarabad two years ago. I have been denied permission of boarding the bus. However, I chat with my relatives through the internet”, he said. |
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