120 Whither Kashmir? (Part II) - Islamabad Policy Research Institute

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32 IPRI Factfile WHY RUSH TO DIALOGUE? It is strange to see the Pakistan government agreeing to foreign secretary level talks with India as early as 25 February when no less a person than the Prime Minister has revealed that India does not want Kashmir on the dialogue table. Now that the most pressing issues all arise out of the Kashmir dispute, it seems absurd to commence a dialogue casting aside the agreed composite dialogue formula as well as agenda and to embark on a new venture where India has already declared what it wants to discuss. Why is Pakistan in such a hurry to get to the dialogue table with India when there is little substance in terms of conflict resolution that India is in a mood to concede to? What are the pressures on Pakistan? Surely it would have been better to get a national consensus through parliament before embarking on such a dicey dialogue track? But once again, the Foreign Minister, whose unseemly haste in welcoming the Kerry Lugar Act is still vivid in most Pakistani memories, seems almost desperate to accept India’s terms for a dialogue. Equally ridiculous is the Foreign Office’s declaration that Pakistan will hold talks “with an open mind”, given how India has already closed it mind to any suggestions for an agenda on the part of Pakistan. So, under these circumstances, and “open mind” would merely denote an acceptance of Indian diktat, beginning with the agenda. As for the argument that the dialogue is necessary because of the critical water issue, this is an effort to fool the people. First, the water issue cannot be resolved without resolution of Kashmir since the seeds of the dispute lie within this larger political conflict. India would like to discuss water outside of Kashmir so as to create an artificial disconnect between the two inextricably linked issues. Second, and linked to the first point, is the fact that if India wants to discuss water outside of the Kashmir dispute, there is already a mechanism inbuilt into the Indus Water Treaty so there is actually no need for the commencement of dialogue between the two sides to push for resolution of the waters dispute. After all, the Treaty has international guarantors who should now be called upon to play their role since they forced the rulers of the time to sign away Pakistan’s rights to three crucial rivers. Finally, the water issue has effectively moved into the area of state terrorism on the part of India so perhaps it can also be discussed under that head as part of the composite dialogue. Otherwise once again India will present Pakistan with a fait accompli in terms of illegal dams.
Whither Kashmir? Under these circumstances, and seeing the deteriorating situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir, where the Kashmiri people have protested Indian occupation with a complete shutter down strike and protest rallies once again, it makes no sense for Pakistan to rush into a meaningless, illthought out dialogue on 25 February in New Delhi. Editorial, Nation (Islamabad), February 13, 2010. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline/Opinions/Editorials/13-Feb-2010/Why-rush-to-dialogue KASHMIR CALM DOWN The protests in Indian-administered Kashmir during recent weeks are threatening to engulf the region in yet more violence and bloodshed. Anti-India sentiment has deepened after India’s Border Security Force admitted on Wednesday that “prima facie evidence points towards a constable” being responsible for last week’s shooting of an innocent boy. It is encouraging that the Indian administration has promised to pursue justice. Nevertheless it must be noted that the region was paralysed on Thursday by a major security lock-down following a general strike called by the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. There are fears that protests could morph into widespread demonstrations, particularly if the administration persists in its heavy-handed response. This is deeply disturbing on many counts. A move towards peaceful resistance was becoming evident in recent months, and this represented the only way forward for a region that has for decades witnessed mass suppression and bloodshed. But the Indian administration’s disproportionately forceful clampdown on even peaceful demonstrations stands in danger of pushing the Kashmiri people back against the wall and leaving them with no option other than violent agitation. There is no doubt that people have the right to air their grievances in a calm manner. If they are stripped of that right, they may be forced to resort once again to violence. There are two further aspects to be considered in terms of the consequences of heavy-handedness by the Indian administration. First, such tactics of oppression are the hallmarks of a dictatorship, not a democracy. If India wants the world to see and treat it as a credible democracy, it must follow through on basic principles. This includes allowing the Kashmiri people their right to protest peacefully, and pushing towards a long-term solution for the region. Second, in order to 33
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