Delhi had raised quite a hype about restarting a dialogue process with the alienated Kashmiris. One and all in the echelons of power were claiming it to be a political problem needing a political solution. For the first time it was conceded that development and employment would not solve the problem. An All Parties Team had been sent to break the ice. In fact, by their own initiative some of the members of the team did break the ice by calling on the leaders of the “Azadi” movement. It was a bold step which had given rise to controversies among the members of the team itself. Still it was an initiative being keenly watched. The bold initiative of the All Parties Team Delhi had given an excellent opportunity to start a dialogue with the opposite camp.

The conditions set by the two factions of Hurriyat were not very difficult to meet. They were not asking for the moon. Most of the conditions were for giving relief to the harassed people. Yes, some were asking for “Azadi” but a dialogue always starts from the extreme positions! However, the naming of the interlocutors after some initial hiccups and dithering has raised doubts about both the efficacy of the process and the basic sincerity of Delhi in sorting out the problem. Apart from the rejection of the interlocutors by the main opposition groups, even the members of the All Parties Team itself have expressed displeasure over the “Apolitical Panel”. Even though it has been claimed that there have been 150 dialogues since 1951 and the interlocutors are “Apolitical”, it will be advisable to convey the basic requirements for starting a dialogue to them when they visit Kashmir.

Boycott has always given an added advantage to Delhi even though it appears basically insincere! The first sign of the absence of sincerity is the insistence of Delhi to speak to all sections of the political opinion and the simultaneous declaration by its responsible people claiming Kashmir to be an integral part of India. One fails to understand why Indian authorities need to talk to mainstream or pro-India groups? They are there at their own bidding! The problem is with the opposition groups not willing to be a part of India. The measures announced after the visit of the All Parties Team and their implementation give an impression that as usual Delhi is trying to manage the conflict rather than sincerely solve it once and for all. Conflict management by dousing the flames off and on has been the standard practice prompted by internal and external pressure.

Even it is not honest and sincere in managing the conflict! Removal of 16 bunkers out of 400, releasing of 50 youth while hundreds are being arrested simultaneously in different parts of the valley, and dithering on revocation or partial removal of AFSPA speak volumes about the sincerity of Delhi. The only sincere attempt at honestly resolving the issue was during the tenure of Vajpayee which due to changing circumstances could not see the fruition. The probable assessment has been that with the passage of time the Kashmiris will reconcile to their fate and the problem will automatically get resolved.

The history of last sixty three years when after every decade or couple of decades the Kashmiris have risen to demand their basic rights in spite of all the goodies sent by Delhi does not seem to have taught any lessons. Or has Delhi concluded that in spite of all these occasional boils in the Kashmir cauldron which they can manage, they need to keep the territory for all the strategic reasons regardless of its inhabitants? The latter formulation seems more plausible because of the fact that a simmering Kashmir problem in South Asia is more advantageous to India than a peacefully settled area even if such a course is quite expensive in economic and other terms! Kashmir being perennially embroiled by the “Muslim Jehadis” from Pakistan is a very convenient handle to beat Pakistan locally as well as globally!

It would be very unfortunate if Delhi is thinking on these lines. The present time is an era of global freedoms both political and economic. The greatest democracy in the world has to be very keen about these basic freedoms. On one hand India wants to become a world policeman by getting a permanent seat in the UN Security Council while as on the other hand they have a dirty backyard full of violations of Human Rights and all other basic freedoms for which the UN is supposed to be a watchdog. There is a feeling that the present initiative of Delhi is only to somehow get over the visit of President Obama. The Foreign Minister himself has declared that the US wants India to sort out Kashmir due to its Afghan compulsions.

Once the visit is over, Delhi will revert back to its policy of keeping Kashmiris under its foot by hook or by crook! It is a pity that the party whose leader had initiated a political process some years back to sort out the Kashmir problem is now opposing the same with vehemence. Kashmir bashing seems to have been ingrained in the psyche of the most of the Indian political leaders of all hues and shades. There are some exceptions but these are totally helpless and are unable to make their view point heard by those wielding the political power.

The greatest tragedy is that Delhi is not even sincere with its own Johnnies in Kashmir! There are umpteen projects which are ostensibly initiated for the development of Kashmir to give some support to the mainstream parties but all these get stalled or diluted after a dramatic and a glamorous start. Take the case of the Srinagar International Airport. It started with a bang with no less than the Congress Chairperson inaugurating it but ended with a whimper when the only flight to Dubai was discontinued. Even the Hajj flights which had been operating directly to Jeddah have been shelved this year! Same is the case with the Mughal Road. After a much publicised start the project has started getting slowed down and the date of completion is being postponed.

If the Government of India could complete the NHPC project in Uri in time during the peak of militancy, why not the Mughal Road? It appears that Delhi is fond of “Eye Wash” to temporarily satisfy global opinion as well as keep Kashmiris in a perennial bondage. The other such instances are the cross LOC travel which has not gone beyond a trickle. The trade too is the Stone Age barter trade without any banking and communication facilities. Another aspect of the tragedy is that the Delhi bidders in Kashmir too are there for their own personal interests and give a damn to the overall interests of both Kashmir and its unfortunate people! In a crisis they completely disappear and suddenly pop up to receive the goodies when these are distributed!

It is time Delhi gives up its policy of the “Eye Wash” and sincerely comes forward to tackle the problem in real earnest. It should not mistake the present lull as a natural solution brought about by its stick and carrot policy. Kashmir has the habit of simmering and hibernating and then suddenly bursting out with vengeance!