As the Kashmir is reeling through curfews and strikes for the third consecutive summer, there are indications that New Delhi is in talking mood, yet again. Home Ministry has indicated that doors for talks would open soon for everybody with a probable exception being Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
In fact, at least two teams of known ‘Kashmir experts’ have already visited Srinagar. Though the moderates have shown cold shoulders to them, they are not unwilling to enter into another session. They have been interacting with each other to thrash out a possible response if and when the offer comes.
But the response from New Delhi is exhibiting the same old pattern. Wait for the crisis to erupt and when it boils, start making noises about talks. At the best it exhibits the knee-jerk response to Kashmir crisis.
Right now almost everybody would like to take the talks route to manage the crisis. But what happens after the crisis is over?
Talking is a better option than fighting. But many people do not see talks a way out at this stage. They believe that New Delhi should prefer implementing scores of recommendations that the five working groups have made. These will become instant CBMs and will create an atmosphere conducive for talks.
Almost everybody in the state favours talks. NC in its working committee meeting has reiterated that Kashmir issue requires a political solution. They have said they stand for autonomy though they will be ready to accept any other solution that is acceptable to the people. PDP is also for talks and they have their own political bible called self rule. If the entire unionist camp from Kashmir is supportive of the exercise, there is no harm in going ahead. But before that one thing has to be clearly ensured that the institution of negotiations does not get abused.
New Delhi has been talking to people in Kashmir. It started in Devi Gowda regime when a number of former militants were roped in for talks. Then it was the turn of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Moderate Hurriyat had a series of sessions with prime ministers in NDA and UPA regimes. Sajjad Ghani Lone and Mohammad Yasin Malik also talked. But there has been no outcome of these talks on ground. The general feeling is that these talks were aimed at discrediting the invitee. Unless that element is removed, talks will not yield anything. Choosing partners on table comes only after the basics are clear.
