10 September 2016

Greater Confidence-Building Measures Needed In Kashmir – Analysis

By Neha Gupta*
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016

As Jammu and Kashmir witnesses persistent curfew with the death numbers increasing day by day, expectations from the Chief Minister of Kashmir to solve the issue are going high. The situation of Kashmir became worst following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani after which numerous cases of human rights violations were reported and series of public protests were witnessed in Kashmir Valley. Chief Minister of Jamuu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti condemned Pakistan for fuelling the ongoing mayhem in the valley. She presented a “three-pronged action plan” that incorporated a dialogue with all stakeholders during the talks that Mufti had with the Prime Minister in New Delhi. She released the outline of this “three-pronged action plan” before the Prime Minister for the resolution of the Kashmir problem, and which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in a realistic dialogue to bring Kashmir out of its existing geo-political reality.

Mehbooba also stressed on the initiation of significant political action to revive reconciliation and resolution which was started by the then National Democratic Alliance government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2004. The intra and inter-state Confidence Building Measures (CBM) started during that time had facilitated constructive changes in the condition of the state and the region.


She further insisted to pick up the threads from where they left in 2004 and restart the reconciliation and resolution process with new determination, hoping that the present Prime Minister has the command to make courageous political moves on Kashmir as was earlier executed by Vajpayee. She asserted that it was the only chance to resolve the dispute and which could be because India may not always get such a powerful leader who takes decisions boldly.

The meeting that took place following almost two months of violence between the Centre and state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, has also highlighted the misuse of mobiles and loudspeakers in provoking violence among the people in Kashmir. The centre has ordered the state to take control of the law and order situation which is spinning out of control as it is the chief minister’s responsibility to keep the state in order. The centre has agreed to the formation of a new team that will initiate talks in Kashmir through informal channels and will also facilitate to resolve the crisis that has crippled the state for more than 50 days.

The union government has begun the search for those who can effectively work on this team and bring to end the spiralling hostility. The initiators of the talk would be the people upon whom the residents of the state rely heavily. The announcement of new team will take place when an all-party delegation visits the Valley. The government clean-up against separatist leaders and their supporters, nevertheless, persisted across the Valley. Recently, police have detained dozens of senior separatist leaders during raids and either put them to jail or had house arrested them.

No doubt conditions in Kashmir has improved from what it was almost 50 days ago, but it cannot be guaranteed that the human rights violation that allegedly took place and the provoking elements that imbibed the local people against the centre and the state will not pop up in future. So the government should deal with such sensitive issues with great concern and should furthermore build confidence and trust measures among the local people and the government.

*Neha Gupta is a Research Scholar at Dibugarh University, Assam. Comments and suggestions on this article can be sent on: editor@spsindia.in

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