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Kashmir will top PM's talks during 3-nation tour
By Amit Baruah
By all accounts, there has been a credible, free and fair election in Kashmir. The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said in New Delhi not so long ago that a credible election in Kashmir could be a first step in redressing the grievances of the people of Kashmir.
The first step has been taken by India. Now, the challenge for Mr. Vajpayee and his foreign policy team is to ensure that they ``sell'' the elections to the international community in a perspective that leads to maximum gains for India. The second step for the international community will be the elections in Pakistan and the formation of an "elected'' Government in Islamabad. For its part, India has openly questioned the democratic character of these elections — but that possibly has more to do with the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, calling the elections in Kashmir a ``sham''.
As far as India is concerned, the credible elections in Jammu and Kashmir can have long-term meaning only if the American-led international community puts greater pressure on Pakistan to see reason and end the dispatch of ``jehadi terrorists'' into Kashmir and other parts of India. New Delhi must make the best use of the fact that a far more representative Government, than what came about through the last polls in 1996, will take power in Srinagar. Whatever the character of the Government, there will be an effective Opposition to raise uncomfortable questions for those who wield power.
Mr. Vajpayee must tell the Danish Presidency of the European Union, the Danish Prime Minister, Andres Rasmussen, and the European Commission President, Romano Prodi, that the elections are a sign of Kashmiri participation in the political process. The same message must go out to Tony Blair.
From here on, the Prime Minister can make one of two choices — or even combine the two — the Kashmir elections can lead to a dialogue with Pakistan or India can seriously address the issues of autonomy and political rights of the Kashmiris within the Indian Union.
Twelve years after militancy began in Kashmir, India has a new chance to turn things around. Whatever the issues India has with the international community over Pakistan, the fact remains that America and the West played a crucial role in ``softening'' up the separatist elements. The West does see the elections as a positive development.
Now, how does India take the process forward? If the jehadis are allowed to play around by Pakistan, the new Government in Srinagar will be a definite target. That's the challenge for Mr. Vajpayee and his Government, which often tends to pull in different directions as far as Kashmir and Pakistan are concerned.
The lack of consistency in dealing with Pakistan is likely to continue. As one commentator put it in a different context recently, it's important to see what India does rather than what it says.
India, which will surely press its case with the European and British leadership on the question of Pakistan and its support for cross-border terrorism, must tell its interlocutors that it will move ahead on Kashmir with or without Pakistan.
As it tackles the terrorists on the ground, India must tell the world that it will talk to the elected leadership in Srinagar on restoring the rights of the Kashmiri people through a credible and serious process. Other players may also find a place.
Dialogue for the sake of dialogue or to reassure the international community that tensions are down will not yield much. India's concerns about Pakistan and its support for terrorism remain valid. In such an environment, commencing a dialogue on issues other than terrorism could prove problematic.
But, Mr. Vajpayee and India have a chance to bring the international community around provided they address the Kashmir issue internally. Will the Government put its political act together to do so?
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