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Journalism of Courage
How do you view the Hizbul Mujahideen’s withdrawal of ceasefire?
The Government went as far as it could, and it was not easy. The Hizbul Mujahideen should also have gone the extra mile and met them half-way. They cannot expect the Government of India to take nine steps and take only one step themselves.
If Pakistan was keen on showing its magnanimity, it could have told the militants to talk to the Government now and asked to join in later. They could have facilitated the ceasefire instead of destroying it.
What now?
We wait and watch what the cadre of Hizbul Mujahideen who are in Jammu and Kashmir do. They have gone underground. Whether the breakdown of the ceasefire is implemented by the local cadre remains to be seen. Also, how much co-ordination there is between those in authority and those on the ground. And we wait to see what others like NGOs in India and Pakistan and people like Farooq Kathwari and Ghulam Nabi Fai (Kashmiri leaders based in the US) do. I believe Fai and others were in Pakistan to prevent the breakdown of the ceasefire.
Do you think the preparation for the ceasefire was not enough. After all, normally before a ceasefire, 70 per cent of negotiations are sewn up?
It’s not the government that has botched it up. It takes two sides… I feel it would have been better if the discussion had started away from the media glare, and if the Hizbul had sent an emissary to lay down modalities without expectations being raised. Once you declare a ceasefire, the expectations rise.
What you are saying is that there were no preliminaries worked out before the ceasefire announcement?
Not that I know of. If there were, we would not have seen demands coming up so soon after the ceasefire.
Maybe they thought they could push for tripartite talks?
Why do they need Pakistan at the same table? They claim to represent thepeople of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan does not. Why can’t they come and talk? They could go to Pakistan afterwards and tell them about the talks.
On what basis do they claim to be representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir? Where have they tested their mandate? The support of the Hurriyat is confined to pockets of the Valley. They have nothing in Jammu or Ladakh. If there were to be tripartite talks they should also include the National Conference. But we are not making such a demand.
Ultimately, there cannot be a solution to the Kashmir problem without a dialogue between India and Pakistan. The only thing the Government of India feels is that conditions need to be conducive for such a dialogue. I don’t think that’s unfair, considering Vajpayee made such an effort to improve the relations between the two countries and what was the result? Kargil. It’s only natural — once bitten twice shy.
It’s odd that you belong to the National Conference which is governing J&K, that you represent Srinagar and yet, you did not go to Kashmir with the all-party team that the Prime Minister took with him after the recent massacre.
Unfortunately, I had no idea that such a delegation was going. As far as I know, no representative of the NC was asked to go. Personally, I felt rather upset. My dad (Farooq Abdullah) did not know why I had not come. He was under the impression that I had declined. I told him I had not come for the simple reason that I was not asked.
It is said that the NC has been unhappy with the talks that the Government was holding with the Hurriyat?
I am happy for the Government to talk to anyone. There may be elements in the NC who see talks as a threat. But ultimately you have to look at the bigger picture. Either we want peace in Kashmir or we don’t. If the Government feels one of the ways of bringing it about is by talking to the Hurriyat, so be it.
Do you feel it was unfair of the Government to reject NC’s autonomy demands on the one hand but be prepared to talk to the militants without any conditions?
I think somewhere, the Government realised that. That is why it invited the state government for talks. The state government has set up a committee to talk on the subject. The Government of India should do the same.
Nothing we have asked for is outside the purview of the Indian constitution. The last thing you would want is for the NC to feel that they have been sidelined, but that talks with the Hurriyat and Hizbul Mujahideen will carry on.
There is a perception that Farooq Abdullah was ignored when the government conducted informal talks with the Hurriyat.
No, I don’t think so. Ultimately it is the NC government which signed the release orders of the Hurriyat leaders. So Farooq Abdullah would have to be consulted. The Centre has been very correct about what they have done, whether it is regarding talks with the Hurriyat or about issues that have arisen out of the massacre.
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