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| Can India, Pakistan freeze Kashmir issue? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 3: Recent political/ diplomatic developments suggest that New Delhi and Islamabad have finally decided to consign Kashmir issue to cold chambers for the time being. But, will it freeze? The question haunts every Kashmiri.
Kashmir, political experts believe, has changed drastically during the past four years in particular. Gone are the days when leaders would call the shots. Now, the people decide what to do, how and when. The leaders have to follow. The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference has remained silent for the past three years. Geelani, not his faction of the separatist conglomerate, enjoy some acceptability. But he too has been shown his Lakshman Rekha (limits). The only time he tried to cross it was during the summer agitation of 2010. He issued a statement on strikes which did not go well with the stone pelters. Geelani’s effigy was burnt and the octogenarian leader had to eat a humble pie. Soon after, the angry youth chanted slogans against the Hizbul Mujahideen Chief, Syed Salah-ud-Din for a similar statement. His effigy was also torched. Both the leaders had to explain their position publicly.
The mainstream politicians were never in a position to cause a stir in the Valley. They still are not, the `inflated’ rallies of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) notwithstanding.
Kashmir has also turned highly unpredictable. The people did what the leadership never expected in 2008. They were suddenly on the streets protesting grant of land to Shri Amrnathji Shrine Board. It took the stunned leadership ten days to rise to the occasion. A committee was formed comprising civil society members and political activists when the people had been protesting on roads fore ten days. This was very significant. The leadership had been trying for eighteen years to bring the people out without success. And when they came out, the leadership did not trigger it.
The Shopian agitation was also led by civil society members. Once again the leadership remained confined to issuing statements and appealing International Organizations for their intervention.
The first phase of 2010 agitation started on January 31 when Wamiq Farooq got killed. It was followed by killing of Zahid Farooq at Nishat. The people were on streets once again. Masrat Alam was behind the bars then and Syed Ali Geelani was in New Delhi. Masrat was released when the agitation had claimed many a life.
Pakistan has been losing importance and influence in Kashmir over the past few years. Most of the Kashmiris are now in favour of an independent state. The Indian lobby exercises very little or no influence in Kashmir. Even the mainstream parties have to pursue a separatist agenda for their survival. So, who will freeze Kashmir and how? |
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