The people at the helm both in Srinagar and New Delhi beat drums on dialogue with both the separatist leadership and as well as Pakistan but the words they mouth over the terms and conditions for dialogue show their non-seriousness. Mere the announcement dialogue is not enough but an agenda for dialogue matters the most and more so when the government talks about dialogue over a contentious issue over Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan claim right to occupy the territories of the divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir state but don’t talk about the political aspirations of the people of the state. Self satisfying may be the remarks ‘Kashmir is ours, Kashmiris are ours’ for Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh but his remarks are not satisfying the political aspirations of the people of the divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Contrary to the remarks of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh the remark of Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq in which he has sought meetings of the divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir for evolving a consensus over dialogue can be satisfying for people of all the regions of the state.
The five point formula announced by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) in Srinagar shows some flexibility in its stated position over Kashmir and unless and until India and Pakistan don’t break the deadlock over the resumption of composite dialogue process the drum beating over dialogue on Kashmir is unlikely to bring about any perceptible change on ground in Jammu & Kashmir state particularly the Kashmir valley.
Just renewing their stated positions over Jammu & Kashmir won’t take India and Pakistan anywhere closer to a dialogue over seven decade old contentious Kashmir issue but finding a solution to this contentious issue both the countries have to show flexibility and readiness to work on taking some path breaking bold political initiatives. The five point formula announced by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) in Srinagar shows some flexibility in its stated position over Kashmir and unless and until India and Pakistan don’t break the deadlock over the resumption of composite dialogue process the drum beating over dialogue on Kashmir is unlikely to bring about any perceptible change on ground in Jammu & Kashmir state particularly the Kashmir valley.
