How does the Govt bring about peace in Kashmir?

The Kashmir issue is very complex and is compounded by many pulls and pressures of political parties at the Centre as well as the state levels. The Indian establishment has never been serious about allowing the effective functioning of democratic institutions in the Valley, like they have in the rest of the country. The compact under Article 370 has not been honoured due to the deliberate erosion of autonomy granted to the state in 1952. Another impediment to peace is the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) and Public Safety Act (PSA). The PMO has deliberately perpetuated the Kashmir crisis to encourage politics of polarisation, which has hugely benefitted the Modi Sarkar at the Centre and states as well. The BJP-PDP’s Agenda for Alliance has not been implemented to perpetuate the crisis, but has alienated the Kashmiri youth — with about 41 per cent of them unemployed. Security forces should not be pitted against the common people. Kashmiris are alienated from the Indian union. Sadly, all this suits the Modi Sarkar, which is simultaneously encouraging Hindutva politics in Delhi and Islamist politics in Srinagar. How can we clamour for peace when no one is bothered about secularism in India?
— MM Ansari, J&K, Former Interlocutor and former Central Information Commissioner

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should follow the path shown by Atal Bihari Vajpayee – Kashmiriyat, Jamhuriyat and Insaaniyat. This means, dialogue is the only practical and humane option the Government of India has to control the situation in Kashmir in both its internal and external dimensions. Internally, the government should initiate talks with all the stakeholders, including the Hurriyat, in Jammu & Kashmir. Externally, India should conduct talks with Pakistan to agree on a final settlement of the Kashmir issue, as mandated by the Shimla Pact of 1972. There is no military solution to the problem, either in it’s internal or external dimensions.
— Sudheendra Kulkarni, Aide to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the PMO

The only way to bring about peace in Kashmir is to engage with the locals. With the situation deteriorating by the day, the Kashmiri leadership needs to step up. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti seems to be out of her depth in the current situation. We can only hope that something concrete results from her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tasaduq Mufti, the J&K CM’s brother, expressed discontent with the current state of affairs. He said mainstream will not survive if there is no cooperation. Tasaduq is also in favour of having a dialogue with separatists, which National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah also supported. It is imperative for stakeholders in the state come together to discuss the way forward, before approaching the Centre. A dialogue will instil hope in Kashmiris. Modi said Kashmiri students should not be targeted in other parts of the country. We hope the states comply. The youth are getting impatient. You can blame Pakistan for the crisis, but it is more important to talk to them.
— AS Dulat, Author of Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years