India’s feel good factor over Kashmir—what with a democratically elected government in Srinagar, a peace process with Pakistan well in place and positive vibes with the world’s only super power the United States—is now turning sour with the level of violence gathering storm in the Kashmir valley, epitome to India’s secular credentials. The killing of thirty-five Hindus this week by militants is not only horrifying as in the way the massacre occurred but the act itself is most despicable for the mere intent to cause bloodshed on religious lines. Combined with the kidnapping and killing of a Hindu Indian engineer in Afghanistan by the Taliban, there is increasing apprehension that such incidents will only further divide people on ethnic and religious lines. This is a dangerous mindset to operate politics from, given the bitter experience of partition and communal violence across the Indian sub-continent.
That the stepped up violence has occurred only hours before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to hold the second round of discussion with the leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) only adds to the fear that there are forces inimical to peace out to stall the process for their own vested interest. There is no reason to doubt that the stepping up (or down) of violence inside Kashmir on a dual basis seems to be a de-facto policy plan from within the establishment in Pakistan, most notably the handiwork of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Such patterns of generating violence from across the Line of Control (LoC) should not come as a surprise although it is most disappointing to know that violence has come to pass once again even after the amount of time invested by both New Delhi and Islamabad on the peace process.
While there is a growing opinion gaining ground that the government at the Centre should de-rail itself from the peace process with Pakistan, such a response by New Delhi can in no way guarantee peace to flourish either. Rather than take the exit route, India should continue to pursue a peace settlement in the region. For this, there is no reason why the momentum of the peace process should not be given a push. Both India and Pakistan must realize that the bilateral talks must lead to change in the ground situation. For Islamabad this entails that it stops the covert support to cross-border terrorism. This will put less pressure on New Delhi to address the core issue of Kashmir. A belligerent tactic by Pakistan will only push the UPA Government into taking a rigid posture as a face saving formula.
Although, no two countries in the world have so much in common, the human tragedy caused by political violence has diminished goodwill of people on both sides of the border. The political leadership in both the country must realize that their futile path of confrontation has deprived people an opportunity for genuine social and economic development. For this reason, both New Delhi and Islamabad needs to give priority in developing and stabilizing mutually beneficial interaction while realistically taking full measure of the obvious political complexities involved. The large constituency for peace drawn up in both countries should not be allowed to dwindle. At the end, this may be the only catalyst to sustain a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
