Peace with India
Secular Kashmiri nationalists who had gone on backfoot after the induction of militant organisations are back into the business with a protest in Neelum valley. They brought out hundreds of Kashmiris from divided families to stage a protest on Pakistani side of the Neelum river that cuts Kashmir into two in the Karen sector. Their demand: the two countries take their armies out of Kashmir and divert their scarce resources from military confrontation to the welfare of their people. The protest must awaken India and Pakistan to the need of resolving their outstanding disputes. Islamabad meanwhile has to learn to live with Kashmiris on its side who do not adhere to the establishment’s line of “Kashmir banay ga Pakistan.” The dissenters must not be treated in a knee jerk reaction as ‘traitors’. Attempts to underrate the sentiment could lead to the opening of a new front in AJK. In case an attempt is made to silence the dissenters through the security agencies, the single spark could set the whole prairie on fire. New Delhi must also realise that in this time and age it is simply impossible for a country, however powerful, to keep an unwilling population under control through sheer military power.
Some of the recent developments vis a vis Pak-India ties have roused hopes combined with doubts. The two countries have again initiated talks on the outstanding disputes which is encouraging. There are, however, unnecessary hiccups. At times official confirmation of understandings reached is delayed as in the case of agreements on the relaxation of visa restrictions. This creates the perception that the forces on both sides interested in keeping the pot boiling are at it again.
The disputes may take more time to resolve than one would like. This should not cause much concern as long as economic ties continue to be strengthened and mutual dependencies created. India must meanwhile address the concerns regarding non tariff barriers that create hindrances for Pakistani exporters. The trade must not be a one-way traffic. Pakistan should also go ahead with concluding agreements for the import of crucial items, like power and petrol products, from India.
