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A Kashmiri Perspective

What would be acceptable in Jammu and Kashmir?

Arjimand Hussain Talib
The latest statement of the Pakistani President General Parvez Musharraf, proposing a way for solving the Kashmir problem, has predictably sparked public and private debates in Kashmir about his unilateral offer. There is both disquiet and amusement among the pro-independence, pro-lndia and pro-Pakistan organizations, who interpret the general's statement in their own ways.
For Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference it has been a rude shock, because it attacks the very core of their ideology, the ideology which carved out the separate Muslim State of Pakistan and would like to see Kashmir's accession to Pakistan. Although, Geelani Hurriyat's key constituents like the Peoples League and National Front led by Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Nayeem Ahmed Khan, are skeptical about the General's ideas, they have made it known privately that they would throw their weight behind the idea of de-militarisation and independence, if New Delhi reciprocates positively to the offer. Sources in the Jamat-i-lslami, Geelani's parent organisation, say that although there is unease with Musharraf's public statement, there is a general feeling that India and Pakistan cannot impose their decision on Kashmiris.
But there are people on the other side of the separatist fence, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference headed by Moulvi Omar Farooq, which is upbeat that Pakistan has accepted the independence of Kashmir as a possible solution to the problem. The JKLF led by Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) led by Shabir Shah are likely to throw their weight behind these new ideas of demilitarization and independence, but have chosen to mute their public reactions. There is unanimity of thought in that it was bad diplomacy for General Musharraf to concede so much to New Delhi.
The United Jehad Council has expressed resentment about what
it terms "Musharraf's volte face" on Pakistan's principled stand on Kashmir. It has stressed that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan and that any decisions by Islamabad on behalf of the Kashmiris would be unacceptable to the militant groups.
On the other hand, Jehadi groups like the Jamiat ul Mujahideen are bewildered about Musharraf's statement. For the Jehadi groups there is no alternative to Jehad for liberating Kashmir. Perceptions among the common people reflect the same pattern as in the political and militant groups. They are generally happy that Musharraf's suggestion includes de-militarisation of Kashmir by both India and Pakistan. For the vast majority, this solution is practical and feasible. Independence or UN control for some time has many takers in Kashmir, but joint control by India and Pakistan is altogether ruled out.
What provides credibility to this new development is the widespread speculation in the print media in Srinagar that it was the
US, which has been supporting this project behind the scenes. It is public knowledge in Kashmir now that Wajahat Habibullah, a former bureaucrat from the State, has been working with some US think-tanks on the issue.
What, perhaps, is of greatest significance is the perceived political and ideological transition that is taking roots in the State's oldest political organization, National Conference, coinciding with the latest developments. The assassination of the party's senior leader Safdar Ali Baig and the attack on party president, Omar Abdullah, in which he narrowly escaped the bomb blast in Anantnag town last week, have drifted the party away from mainstream politics for too long. The town and the district is the political home turf of Mufti Muhammad Syed as well as his daughter Mehbooba Mufti.
But how credible are such feelings? The open accusation of the Abdullahs is that the Mufti's PDP was responsible for the attacks on the NC leadership which is an open war declaration. Omar's "ultimatum" to New Delhi
to come clean on the issue makes its role clear on the party's political role in Kashmir, which is being viewed as a serious and unprecedented political development.
Pakistan's condemnation of the blast has been significant but also unprecedented. There are unconfirmed reports that Pakistan is trying to reach out to the National Conference for a realignment of political forces and wean away from pro-lndian politics. Should the National Conference throw its weight behind Musharraf's latest suggestions, pro-lndian politics in Kashmir would be wholly dependent on Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP). And that is what both Farooq Abdullah and Omar are said to have conveyed to Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Home Minister, Shiv Raj Patil, when the father and son met them in New Delhi after the series of attacks on them.
By permission of the IPCS, New Delhi
The author is afreelancer based in Srinagar