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| Need to revive Backchannel for ‘support’ to Interlocutors ? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 14: In less than 15 days of its announcement of 8 point formula essentially aimed at defusing unrest in Kashmir valley, the Centre has acted while adopting multi pronged strategy to implement in what can be seen as fresh and new initiatives, appointment of interlocutors being the crucial step. Notwithstanding criticism and cynicism on group composition from some quarters, the step is timely and vital in terms of fulfilling the commitment.
The composition of the group of three interlocutors for now reflects Centre opting not to send politicians or parliamentarians nor any retired bureaucrats, even as there has been some persistent demand from certain quarters in valley that interlocutors should be parliamentarians, having some political background. However, all the three are eminet personalities, have good reputation in the respective fields they come from and apparently have perceptible knowledge, if not experience about handling Kashmir affairs and matters.
Though there is talk about appointment of fourth interlocutor, perhaps one from political background, those whose names have been announced today will set the ball rolling for what is being seen as the new effort to positively engage various sections of society in dialogue process. They are expected to begin the process of a sustained dialogue with all sections of the people of the state , including political parties, community groups, youth and student organizations, civil society organizations besides other stakeholders who matter in the polity of Kashmir.
What approach and strategy the interlocutors are going to adopt in the job assigned to them will be unfolded as and when they start the work. But it goes without saying that no matter they are the persons of repute and eminence, both centre and state government need to do a preliminary exercise of field work before the trio actually take off on their ‘sensitive assignments’. In other words a lot of work by way taking some vital steps of activating the virtually ‘dead’ channels of communication need to be revived before reaching out to stakeholders, particularly in Kashmir where their job is relatively tough and complicated. The interlocutors cannot be expected be start their job all of a sudden or in vacuum. Nor can they approach the people, the hardline stakeholders on their own.
Interlocutors have come earlier as well and their roles in political spectrum of Kashmir is only too well defined. But in order to make the new effort a meaningful exercise, a ground has to be prepared for ‘conducive atmosphere’ for well meaning talks or dialogue to take off. While the government needs to continue with other CBMS in the 8 point formula as desired by the Centre, the need is to revive and activate backchannel measures which is vital to provide a solid strength and support to the role of interlocutors on ground. In other words interlocutors too need ‘intermediaries’ to reach out to all quarters who matter in making the dialogue meaningful to have fair insight into the core matters.There can certainly be no time frame defined for this task to be accomplished, but the interlocutors have to carry out job in all the three regions with fair and reasonable attention to what all sections of society have to say in changed circumstances and equations on ground. They have to take communities in Jammu and Ladakh too into confidence, even though the thrust areas are Kashmir.
Failure or non seriousness in the backdrop of unrest in Kashmir is unaffordable and certainly not desired from interlocutors. Careful steps need to taken so that they ‘tread’ smoothly and at no stage they make retreat, which will not only give a message of non seriousness but also prove to disastrous and defeat the entire purpose.
Need to revive Backchannel for ‘support’ to Interlocutors ?
Jammu: In less than 15 days of its announcement of 8 point formula essentially aimed at defusing unrest in Kashmir valley, the Centre has acted while adopting multi pronged strategy to implement in what can be seen as fresh and new initiatives, appointment of interlocutors being the crucial step. Notwithstanding criticism and cynicism on group composition from some quarters, the step is timely and vital in terms of fulfilling the commitment.
The composition of the group of three interlocutors for now reflects Centre opting not to send politicians or parliamentarians nor any retired bureaucrats, even as there has been some persistent demand from certain quarters in valley that interlocutors should be parliamentarians, having some political background. However, all the three are eminet personalities, have good reputation in the respective fields they come from and apparently have perceptible knowledge, if not experience about handling Kashmir affairs and matters.
Though there is talk about appointment of fourth interlocutor, perhaps one from political background, those whose names have been announced today will set the ball rolling for what is being seen as the new effort to positively engage various sections of society in dialogue process. They are expected to begin the process of a sustained dialogue with all sections of the people of the state , including political parties, community groups, youth and student organizations, civil society organizations besides other stakeholders who matter in the polity of Kashmir.
What approach and strategy the interlocutors are going to adopt in the job assigned to them will be unfolded as and when they start the work. But it goes without saying that no matter they are the persons of repute and eminence, both centre and state government need to do a preliminary exercise of field work before the trio actually take off on their ‘sensitive assignments’. In other words a lot of work by way taking some vital steps of activating the virtually ‘dead’ channels of communication need to be revived before reaching out to stakeholders, particularly in Kashmir where their job is relatively tough and complicated. The interlocutors cannot be expected be start their job all of a sudden or in vacuum. Nor can they approach the people, the hardline stakeholders on their own.
Interlocutors have come earlier as well and their roles in political spectrum of Kashmir is only too well defined. But in order to make the new effort a meaningful exercise, a ground has to be prepared for ‘conducive atmosphere’ for well meaning talks or dialogue to take off. While the government needs to continue with other CBMS in the 8 point formula as desired by the Centre, the need is to revive and activate backchannel measures which is vital to provide a solid strength and support to the role of interlocutors on ground. In other words interlocutors too need ‘intermediaries’ to reach out to all quarters who matter in making the dialogue meaningful to have fair insight into the core matters.There can certainly be no time frame defined for this task to be accomplished, but the interlocutors have to carry out job in all the three regions with fair and reasonable attention to what all sections of society have to say in changed circumstances and equations on ground. They have to take communities in Jammu and Ladakh too into confidence, even though the thrust areas are Kashmir.
Failure or non seriousness in the backdrop of unrest in Kashmir is unaffordable and certainly not desired from interlocutors. Careful steps need to taken so that they ‘tread’ smoothly and at no stage they make retreat, which will not only give a message of non seriousness but also prove to disastrous and defeat the entire purpose.
Mir, Tarigami differ on composition
Jammu: While the appointment of interlocutors has evoked mixed reaction from political circles in the state, Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir, president of J&K Democratic Party, has welcomed the non political composition of the group contending it is wise move for talks to be held in free and fair manner.CPM leader MY Tarigami , however, questioning the composition has termed it as unsatisfactory stating it may not serve the purpose for which it has been constituted.
“ This is welcome step……….instead of appointing politicians the Centre has rightly so chosen non political persons who can hold dialogue with an open manner with all sections”, said Mir adding that politicians have a fixed mindset and they cannot be expected to do this job as freely as these persons can do. Moreover the assessment of the non political persons is always seen as done with openness, the minister said contending that seriousness and complicated nature of Kashmir imbroglio need to seen and addressed with open minds.
On the contrary, Tarigami, while negating the move said people were expecting that the central government will form the group of interlocutors, while taking into consideration past experiences regarding the dialogue in J&K. But it seems yet again, a causal approach has been adopted much to the disappointment of those who are eager to address the issue through the process of dialogue and debat, CPM leader said.
“Although we have full faith in the integrity and honesty of the people who have been named as interlocutors but we have been all along vehemently demanding constitution of a Parliamentary panel keeping in view the political nature of the present crisis”, he further said in his statement.
The initiatives taken by the government of India in the past to hold dialogue with the voices of dissent in Kashmir have suffered due to trust and credibility deficit, the institution of dialogue deserves a serious approach keeping in view the sensitivities embedded in the Kashmir issue.
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Keeping in view the magnitude and nature of the present crisis in Jammu & Kashmir, CPI (M) had suggested constitution of a Parliamentary panel assisted by experts as interlocutors which could have proved more effective in initiating dialogue with all shades of political opinion in the State.
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