Though both mainstream and separatist leaders of Jammu and Kashmir had though many a times in the past reminded both India and Pakistan of the centrality of Kashmir issue in their bilateral relations , but Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not pay any heed to the advices of Kashmir’s mainstream and separatist leaders and instead blocked all the channels of communication with Pakistan. Suspension of India-Pakistan bilateral talks has not only increased the intensity of internal disturbances in Jammu & Kashmir state but also the intensity of frequent skirmishes on borders dividing the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir one administered by India and the other by Pakistan. Unfortunately the dispute over Jammu & Kashmir is now prompting political parties in both the countries to use it as a trump card in elections at the cost of the national security of their own countries. Knowing that the military confrontation brings only death and destruction but not solutions to disputes standing at the core of difficulties between the two countries, the political top brass in both the countries owe too many explanations for pursuing the path of military confrontation and divorcing the decades old practice of bilateral engagements on all outstanding issues including Kashmir. The call of Pakistan Prime Minister for de-escalation and dialogue in an atmosphere of a limited war deserves reciprocity from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as talks are the only means to de-escalate the increasing hostilities and restore the normal process of diplomatic engagements between the two countries.
Political wisdom demands that Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes the route to diplomatic engagement with Pakistan the way former Prime Minister late Attal Bihari Vajpayee has brought former Pakistan President General (Retd,) Pravez Musharaff closer to an agreement over many outstanding issues including Kashmir at the historical Agra summit after fighting a limited war in Kargil.
Claims of air strikes on alleged militant training camps in Pak Administered Kashmir and counter claims on retaliations on this side of Kashmir can neither restore the process of bilateral engagements nor peace in Kashmir but brief spells of military strikes in each other’s territories would by all probabilities bring economies of both India and Pakistan already hit by institutional mismanagements on collapsing modes. Political wisdom demands that Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes the route to diplomatic engagement with Pakistan the way former Prime Minister late Attal Bihari Vajpayee has brought former Pakistan President General (Retd,) Pravez Musharaff closer to an agreement over many outstanding issues including Kashmir at the historical Agra summit after fighting a limited war in Kargil.
