Opportunity In Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir’s Monthly Magazine

RNI : JKENG/2007/26070

Jammu and Kashmir’s Monthly Magazine

ISSN 0974-5653

Now Telling The J&K Stories

Epilogue because there is more to know

Epilogue

Jammu, November 1, 2009 / Vol 3 / Issue 11 || Price Rs. 30 || Postal Registration No. JK-350/2009-11 || www.epilogue.in

BRIDGING Divides Via Talks & Trade Special on First Anniversary of Cross-LoC Trade

because there is more to know

An Analysis of Joint Chamber -------------New Delhi's Fresh Peace Initiatives --------------Perspectives on Harnessing Indus Waters

INTERVIEW : NYLA ALI KHAN

RESEARCH :

Author of Islam Women & Violence in Kashmir

Socio-Cultural and Economic Changes Among Muslim Rajputs

November 1, 2009 Vol 3 / Issue 11 || Price Rs. 30 || www.epilogue.in

9

IN

FOCUS

Bridging Divides

A Window of Opportunity B.G. VERGHESE

There is a window of opportunity opening in J&K that must not be missed once again. This follows the Union Home Minister's statement that the Government intends to open and persevere with quiet talks with all sections of J&K opinion, including those outside the mainstream like the Hurriyat and . None can claim a veto or set conditionalities. Spoilers will be exposed.

EXCLUSIVE TO

Epilogue www.epilogue.in

The first and more important part of a J&K settlement is an internal resolution on matters of human rights, disappearances, displacement, autonomy, livelihoods and development generally. This must include bridging regional divides. Pakistan can have no role in this and must, rather, put right its own house in order in that part of J&K under its control which lacks the autonomy and freedom enjoyed on this side. The other part pertains to an external settlement with Pakistan which can now realistically only be along the LOC on the basis of making boundaries irrelevant (with no derogation to sovereignty on either side) as basically agreed in principle. This means halting the trans-border infiltration and mindless violence that Pakistan has wantonly indulged in, extending jihadi terrorism far afield to other parts of India, of which 26 /11 was a horrendous example. There are no true non-state actors as the jihadi organizations and Taliban have all been trained and sponsored by Pakistan and cannot masquerade under new names. To say that Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism means little as it is the monster Pakistan has long bred, and even now patronises in part, that has turned on it. No one either in J&K or Pakistan can plead for more time to formulate their views. Nor can it be argued that “Kashmiris” must meet to decide on a common position before the internal dialogue commences. What will they discuss that they could not discuss earlier or have

Vol. 3, Issue 11

already discussed in recent years? Cross-border relations in turn will unfold and evolve over time. One urgent new issue is climate change that will hit J&K and the entire Indus basin. This will respect no boundaries and offers both a challenge and an opportunity. The Indus Treaty has worked fairly well. Both sides now need to avail of Article 7 of the Treaty on “Future Cooperation” to move towards joint investigation, development and management of the three Western rivers allocated to Pakistan (in which the Indian part of J&K has a modest share) but whose upper basins are controlled by India. This alone will permit the optimal development and utilization of the full potential of the Indus basin for the mutual benefit not only of all the people of J&K but also of India and Pakistan. Together with this, the Siachen issue can easily be settled by acknowledging the specific and unambiguous 1949 Karachi Agreement delineation of the LOC beyond the last demarcated point at grid reference NJ 9842 and “thence north to the glaciers”, without leaving any part as no-man's land as stipulated. Once this is done, the triangular area from NJ 9842 running NE to the Karakoram Pass and NW to K2 could be declared a Peace Zone and a scientific park for joint Indo-Pakistan glaciological, hydrological and meteorological studies, with international collaboration, in order to monitor and respond to climate change on the basis of real time data. This is the way forward.

Epilogue, November 2009