Interlocutors to present initial Kashmir-roadmap in two weeks

[hembo]

I am posting the thread here as, it seems, I cannot post thread in the Kashmir section. Mods may move the thread if they so desires.

Interlocutors to present initial Kashmir-roadmap in two weeks

A file picture of Interlocutors Radha Kumar, Dileep Padgaonkar, and MM Ansari meeting with Awami National Conference President Begum Khalida Shah at her Residence in Srinagar. Photo: Nissar Ahmad


The Centre’s interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir will submit a document containing the contours of a political settlement of Kashmir issue to the Centre within two weeks.

“We are going to present the initial document on contours of a political settlement in the next two weeks,” head of the three-member panel of interlocutors and journalist Dileep Padganokar told a press conference in Jammu today.

The panel, which was appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to evolve a broad consensus on a permanent political settlement in the State, is on its fifth visit to the State.

Maintaining that they would go without incorporating the stand of the Kashmiri separatists on the issue, Mr. Padganokar said, “Obviously, we will not be able to factor in what the separatists want because they have decided not to talk to us.”

Flanked by two other members Academician Prof Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner M M Ansari, he said, “So what do you expect us to do? If they (separatists) at least send us their published documents on their stand, we will certainly factor in those as well.

“But in the meantime, we simply want to go ahead and reach out to all other stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that “we believe that no one group of stake holders can hold the entire dialogue process to ransom”.

Answering a volley of questions, Mr. Padgaonkar said the group has studied the autonomy demand of National Conference, self rule demand of PDP and the documents of Awami National Conference, Sajad Lone and the document of the Working Group, headed by Justice Sageer Ahmad, set up by the Prime Minister.

“We have taken all these into account. We have also been given documents by certain political parties in Delhi stating their stand on the issue,” Mr. Padgankokar said, adding .

“We will take all these into account. To say one or the other is good, better, pivotal, central and main is incorrect”.

“We welcome suggestions, ideas from as many quarters as we get and we hope that by and by those suggestions that will come forth from the ranks of separatist as well,” he said.

However, Ms. Radha Kumar clarified that the interlocutors have taken into account four points of separatist leaders — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and five points of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which were essentially confidence building measures (CBMs).

“In order to create a conducive atmosphere certainly we have incorporated them. However, on the acceptability of the word dispute by Mr. Geelani is concerned, it is a legalistic matter and a separate issue. We have taken only CBMs,” he said.

 

[KS]

It will be interesting to see what 'out-of-box' thinking the interlocutors bring in and what is the reaction to that from various political parties.

 

[hembo]

^^ The mood of the Kashmiri people is undergoing a major change in the recent times. This may be due to the non-stop turbulence in Pakistan (may they stop soon) and India's swift progress in economic development and new found global stature.

You will be interested in knowing past militant's present stand vis-a-vis India:

NEW DELHI: Two new pro-India political outfits are being launched in J&K, headed by former militants and Ikhwan commanders, with the backing of the Union home ministry and the Indian Army. They are in the process of hiring office space right in front of the headquarters of Hurriyat Conference, an amalgam of pro-Pakistan separatist outfits, in Srinagar's Rajbagh locality.

This is an innovative attempt to counter the rising influence of "freedom movement" in J&K while providing an alternate space to pro-India elements in the Valley. Separatists and pro-freedom groups have so far dominated J&K politics.

While one outfit, with the backing of the home ministry, will be headed by former Ikhwans and ex-militant commanders Zubair-ul-Islam and Imran Rahi, the other is being launched by former militant commander from Anantnag, Liaquat Ali.

The move has unnerved strategic planners in Pakistan who think the development may push the already marginalised pro-Pakistan group in the Valley into a corner.

Stories have been planted in Pakistani media calling the new outfits as being launched by "traitors".

Both Imran Rahi and Zubair Islam had earlier faced elections under the umbrella of Awami National Conference of Muzaffar Shah, son of former J&K CM Ghulam Muhammad Shah. The other outfit is to be headed by Liaquat Ali, believed to have the backing of Army. Liaquat had contested last assembly elections from Anantnag.

Liaquat was the chief commander of a pro-Pakistan outfit and a terror in Anantnag area before he broke ranks and joined hands with the Army to fight militants in the early 1990s at the peak of militancy. Liaquat, like Zubair Islam and Imran Rahi, was among the first to join the ranks of Ikhwans and fight against militants and made the elections of 1996 possible. Kukka Parrey and Usman Majid were the others who became popular as Ikhwans and together they had raised one of the biggest outfits of surrendered militants.

Captain Tikoo, an Army veteran, was instrumental in raising the band of Ikhwans in the 1990s and later launching them as a political party. He is again involved in helping Zubair Islam and Liaquat in raising the political outfits to counter the pro-freedom movement gaining ground. However, when contacted, Captain Tikoo feigned ignorance of the whole matter.

Meanwhile, the government has taken many other measures to integrate the J&K youths with the mainstream. It has been on a recruitment drive in the state giving jobs to youths in the police and the security forces. The steps have already received huge response and have been a game-changer in shifting attention of youths from pelting stones to getting into formal engagements with the establishment.

Read more: Two pro-India parties floated in J&K with Army, MHA help - The Times of India Two pro-India parties floated in J&K with Army, MHA help - The Times of India

 

[KS]

Buddy the Ikhwanis are not a recent phenomenon. They were misguided youth who received cross border training but then quickly realised that Pakistan is using them for its own land grabbing and revenge purposes as early as 2000 and have been used used by the Army in countless anti-militant operations.

And the ordinary Kashmiri though not expressly pro-India favours India for the obvious economic benefits. The tragedy is that their voice has completely been muted by the small yet vocal section of the separatists who continue to paint a picture that entire Kashmir is against India.

The muted voice needs to resonate AGAIN.

 

[hembo]

The launch of the political party is fairly recent.

 

[hembo]

Team always ready for talks with separatists: Padgaonkar

Centre’s interlocutors on Kashmir on Wednesday said the separatists had not responded to their formal invitation for talks so far but said they were ready to hold parleys with them at any time and away from the media glare.

“So far, we have not received any response from them.

If the separatists want to hold talks with us away from the media glare, we are prepared for this also,” journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, head of the Central team, told reporters here.

“I am not giving up hope. As and when they decide to hold talks with us, we are willing to meet them. We want to engage them in talks.

“We have, in fact, written a letter to them saying we are ready to meet them at any time and at any place of their choice,” Mr. Padgaonkar said

He said the team had requested them to send published documents giving their viewpoints on political settlement of the Kashmir issue.

“Till the time they respond, what do you expect us to do except renewing our hope that we will be able to meet them,” Mr. Padgaonkar said.

To a question, he said “any kind of dialogue that advances the interest of peace is fine with us. That includes talks away from the media exposure.”

 

[KS]

One thing I dont like is this grovelling before the Separatists as if they represent the entire Kashmiri population. This is like giving that much needed legitimacy to them.

On the contrary we should be doing things to make them irrelevant on the Kashmiri scene.

 

[Stumper]

One thing I dont like is this grovelling before the Separatists as if they represent the entire Kashmiri population. This is like giving that much needed legitimacy to them.

On the contrary we should be doing things to make them irrelevant on the Kashmiri scene.

But do you think we have any other option as of now?. Sometime in future, they too will wear out .. eventually.