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| Will interlocuters' report address both internal & external dimensions of Kashmir issue? | | | ET Report
Jammu, Sept 17: The three-member team of interlocuters, headed by veteran journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, are likely to submit their final report to the Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, by October 12 thereby marking an end to their one year long tenure.
The report was being compiled after the team members, Dilip Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari, completed more than 12 visits to the state's three main regions, Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
Soon after the announcement that the team would submit its final report on October 12 peoples' interest in the main recommendations have touched new high. And a cross section of people, besides political leaders, academicians, advocates, technocrats, doctors students and traders, besides displaced people from Kashmir wish to know whether the report was likely to address only the internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue?
These sections of people wish to know whether the interlocuters' report may address the external dimensions also? Those who have been watching from close quarters ups and downs in the India-Pakistan relations because of the Kashmir issue believe that the mission of the interlocuters may prove a failure if their report addressed only the internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue.
At one stage unconfirmed media reports had indicated that the interlocuters may recommend rest oration of greater autonomy which could result in peace and normalcy in the state. The media reports have been denied by the interlocuters but even if the team recommends restoration of autonomy it may not address the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue.
The job of the interlocuters seems to be more complicated than the one performed by K.C. Pant and later by N.N. Vohra who had been appointed Government negotiators and interlocuters. At the sametime the Padgaonkar led team has been given the specific task of interacting with all shades of opinion held by political leaders, separatists, traders, students and academicians for charting out a course for the future.
Indications are that the team's recommendations may concentrate on internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue. And for addressing the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue the interlocuters needed to visit Pakistan and occupied Kashmir which they have not done.
This way the final report may recommend certain modifications and improvement in the autonomy resolution of the National Conference and the PDP's self-rule document besides Article 370 which gives to Jammu and Kashmir special status within the union of India.
The PDP leadership is of the firm opinion that its self-rule idea addresses both the internal and the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue whereas the NC's autonomy resolution addresses only the internal dimensions of the issue. Even if the interlocuters recommend a blend of self-rule and greater autonomy ideas the Governor could be a state subject to be elected by the state legislature and not thrust by the centre. Not beyond that.
Secondly, it may recommend upgrading and a hassle free people-to- people contact on the LOC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir by simplifying visa rules. It may recommend opening of more border routes for trade and travel with basic improvement in the India-Pakistan banking sector which will not force the traders to bank on barter system.
As far as the joint management, which is part of the self-rule idea and Musharaff's four-point proposal on Kashmir, is concerned the interlocuters may leave it to New Delhi and Islamabad to decide on.
With regard to the demand of the NC and the PDP for repealing most of the central laws which had been extended to Jammu and Kashmir after 1953 the interlocuters may suggest that a committee of legal and constitutional experts from the state and the centre be set up to examine the matter without tampering with those laws that have friendly impact on the people of the state. In this category the centre is not ready to withdraw the jurisdiction of the Comptroller and Auditor General Of India (CAG), the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India.
Both the PDP and the NC favour separate election commission and apex court for Jammu and Kashmir. One thing is certain while Pakistan may not stop being a party to the Kashmir dispute the separatists in the valley may treat the intrlocuters' report "an exercise in futility." But general impression in Kashmir is that a blend of self-rule and autonomy ideas may give a chance to people to feel that they have been able to gain something. Against this the very blend may leave the Jammuites bleeding and angry because they support state's total integration with India. |
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