For sometime past one can easily witness in the context of Kashmir the abundance of the proposers as well as the disposers within the same establishment. Whatever one part proposes, the other half disposes it. The process goes on from the head of the government downwards. It is often said that the opposition camp in Kashmir is fragmented and there has never been a consensus on anything. Most of the parties are in bits and pieces. Some are even just one man parties. Each one speaks with a different voice. The reason given for such diversity is the manipulation with the liberal use of money by various agencies from both the sides of the divide. In spite of best intentions and maximum efforts, no one seems to succeed in framing a consensus. The story goes on and on! However, one would have expected a better performance from the state side especially in Delhi and Islamabad. The situation there seems more confusing and contradictory. While the Prime Minister of India has gone out of the way to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan to settle all contentious issues to restore peace, some of his subordinates ensure failure of his initiatives. They take no time in demolishing his proposals. Even before the common people could fully realise the import of Prime Minister’s declaration during the inauguration of the rail link in Kashmir, they got a bolt from the blue in the form of the disruption of the useful communication facilities of pre-paid mobiles. Not only were over 4 million subscribers in a quandary but thousands of kiosk owners and franchise holders were faced with the prospect of sudden unemployment. According to the directorate of employment, the number of registered educated unemployed has crossed half a million. This is the most explosive material, more dangerous than even RDX. While as the government should be making all out efforts to find avenues of gainful and productive employment, there are some specialist players within it who invent very ingenious ways to increase the number of unemployed. To top it up, the Army Chief in the State completely negates the peace overture. He not only opposes the Union Home Minister announcing handing over of security maintenance to local Police but goes a step ahead by calling peaceful demonstrations as agitational terrorism. Normally, people in uniform are supposed to refrain from making any comments on political situations but not here. We have so much freedom that any body in the government at any level can directly speak to the media and air his/her views even if these contradict the official line!

This year there was a panic in spring about Taliban entering Kashmir. It was the typical story of crying wolf. There have been many instances were the security authorities have claimed entry of Taliban into Kashmir. In fact, one of these stories was floated by no less a person than the head of the security which completely disrupted the tourist season in its very start. The story was later on repeatedly denied by the top brass but the damage had been done. Recently, there was a widely circulated story that the Taliban had declared their intention to tackle India after taking over the State of Pakistan. They were posed a challenge by the top brass of the security in the country that India was ready to take them on. Fortunately, the main leader of the opposite camp in Kashmir has out rightly denounced the Taliban actions in Pakistan and has called these contrary to the true spirit of jihad in Islam. Hopefully, the Taliban creating havoc among the civilian population in Pakistan will not be very welcome in Kashmir too?

The situation of proposers and disposers is also no better on the other side. Their top political leaders repeatedly call for restarting of composite dialogue with India on all issues including Kashmir. They are in fact extending both hands for friendship with India in order to allow them a free hand to tackle the terrorist menace in their tribal areas. However, all their efforts get washed off by the rogue elements in various organisations that are fully capable of overturning the apple cart. Ultimately, both sides would have to honestly and genuinely combine not only for restarting the dialogue process but to first tackle the menace of terrorism destroying the very roots of democracy. Terrorism is terrorism and it does not have a specific face. Taliban or Naxalites both want a revolutionary change through violence. The difference is only of ideology. In order to tackle the menace, the authorities on both sides have to clearly define as to who is really in charge? They have to put their acts together and develop a consensus not only among various political parties but among the various agencies of the government itself. At least the governments should be able to speak with one voice and present a united face to the alienated people with whom they want to have a dialogue. Unless there is a single line of action for working out solutions to the basic problems ailing both countries, the common people will keep on getting confused and would be at a loss to know as to whom they can trust?

A similar situation holds good for the representatives of the people whether mainstream or of the opposite stream. They too have to put their acts together and work out a common agenda by consensus. Recently, some opposition as well as mainstream parties have been making overtures to each other for working out a common agenda. One hopes that these efforts succeed to enable starting of a real peace process. There is no doubt that we have both the proposers and disposers among us. The disposers can be checked only if all the proposers decide honestly that enough is enough and we need peace now. They have to be bold and sincere. They must unequivocally state that the ultimate goal of honour and dignity for the people can be reached through peaceful means and the dialogue process is the only way forward. The government too has to admit the fact that no meaningful dialogue can be started unless conducive atmosphere for the same is created. Only a tension free atmosphere of total relaxation can motivate all the stake holders to sit across the table and speak for finding out the ultimate solution!