New initiative brings new hope: Dialogue on Kashmir

A fresh initiative attempting peace through dialogue has been brought into sight by the Centre when it was needed the most to deliver tangible results to uplift the mood in Kashmir.
The appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma is a substantive action to find a way out to resolve the vexed Kashmir problem that has caused a huge crisis for the state and embarrassed the country at the international level. This has the obvious imprint of Narendra Modi who had been seeking to resolve the Kashmir problem since the day he took over as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. His invite to the South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) leaders at his swearing-in ceremony was a diplomatic and political initiative.
The initiative at this time, when the chorus for Delhi taking the first step towards dialogue was reaching its crescendo, can tap the hopes of the people. They are convinced that Modi has the mandate to turn the corner in Kashmir.
Initiating dialogue with all stakeholders is a conscious decision. It was deliberated over several months, and finally it was given the final shape in mid-October. It was decided that the interlocutor should not be constrained by choice of persons he should be meeting during the course of his work and ignore the old-fashioned Kashmir experts having vested interests in promoting certain individuals and groups. These experts had attempted to devise an agenda, but the government put its foot down, signalling that it would trust its own folks in J&K.
Delhi went by the advice of the people who have worked hard in Kashmir in the most difficult circumstances. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was candid enough while explaining the assignment of Sharma that he would be free to meet anyone and would give the feedback to the Centre and the state government. He made a special and specific mention with emphasis that there was an “elected government” (PDP-BJP coalition led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti) and Governor (NN Vohra) and they knew how to work and deal with the situation.
Kashmir is a complex state where ideas, ideologies and views criss-cross like no other place. There were inevitable questions from the likes of former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, “Where is the need for a new interlocutor?” His argument is that there already are reports of working groups and previous interlocutors. Sure enough, that’s true.
But times have changed since 2012 when three interlocutors appointed by the UPA government in 2010 submitted their report. The radicalisation has taken roots and the foreign and local militancy nexus is growing more dangerous. In this situation, a fresh initiative had become a necessity.
At the moment, Kashmiris are caught in the crosshairs, and they are looking towards the Centre. The leaders who were meeting Home Minister and J&K Governor were all asking for dialogue. The common Kashmiri was looking towards the Centre because they knew that Pakistan, raising the graph of infiltration and terrorism and inciting the local elements, could not offer them any solace. The local leadership had been swinging into so many directions without knowing what to offer to the people.
Separatists were more confused. They used all tactics to avoid a direct dialogue with Delhi for the fear of Pakistan.
Rajnath Singh is a seasoned politician. He first offered dialogue and now made a formal announcement of appointing an interlocutor. He has trusted the judgment of the people at the helm of affairs in the state as also what he learnt during his visits to Kashmir to translate the “embracing Kashmiris” agenda of the Prime Minister.
There is a tough task ahead. Kashmiris will watch each and every step with cautious optimism.