Let the talks start

There is, suddenly, hope of a new beginning in Jammu and Kashmir. Talking is better than warring and more and more people are coming to recognise that.Hence the hope that there will be peace in the state in the not too distant future. It is only a flicker of hope as yet which can be dashed as quickly as it has arisen. Nevertheless, there is something new in the air that has not been felt in the state for a long time. Judging by a cascade of positive public signals over the last week, serious efforts are being made by the Central government and major militant groups to create a conducive atmosphere for talks. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen8217;s offer of a three-month unilateral ceasefire, which the army says has since gone into effect, has been followed rapidly by reciprocal gestures from the Centre. The government has directly invited the Hizb for talks and the 15 Corps has announced the suspension of offensive action by the army against militants in Jamp;K. Capping these moves, is the statement from the hitherto sceptical All-Party Hurriyat Conference welcoming what it sees as a change in the government8217;s attitude towards talks with militant organisations. With this theprospects have improved of starting a round of fairly broad-based talks on bringing about peace in Jamp;K.

What is striking at this stage is the considerable effort behind these moves to find meeting points and to be positive. At his press conference8217; announcing the ceasefire, the Hizb8217;s chief local commander Abdul Majjid Dar stressed the craving for peace inside the state. And Home Minister L. K. Advani8217;s remarks about the Hizb over the weekend showed refreshing signs of flexibility. It is sensible not to use the Constitution as a battering-ram 8212; it was not specifically and ostentatiously cited in the invitation for talks. The important thing is to get the process of talks started, to find out at first hand what the Hizb and Hurriyat have to say and to assess the various shades of opinion among them. This may turn out to be the first opportunity since 1989 to discuss issues across the table.

There are enormous difficulties in moving forward. Over a dozen political groups and 16 or more militant groups play some sort of part and the moves each makes will have an impact to a greater or lesser extent on the talks process with the major groups. Then there are the mentors in Pakistan or Afghanistan with their conflicting motivations. But there is no other option. A peace process can begin only through talks. For the people of Jamp;K getting the talks started will demonstrate that their interests are the core issue and what they want after this last decade of violence is peace above all. Even as the government moves cautiously forward it should brace itself for the usual knee-jerk reactions in some quarters in the country and be prepared to explain in satisfactory terms for all concerned the moves in Jamp;K. There can be no permanent solution through violent means or force of arms. And there can be no permanent gains and hope of peace if Pakistan is left out of the equation. Even as the internationalcommunity must maintain pressure on Islamabad to end its support to cross-border terrorism, India must resume the dialogue with Pakistan at an early date.