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| Edited By: |Source: DNA |Updated: Nov 13, 2017, 08:00 AM IST
In the aftermath of the killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a new spell of violence seems to have been unleashed in Jammu & Kashmir. Recruitment by terrorist organisations, which was otherwise dormant prior to his killing, has seen a precipitous uptick. Alongside, there also is a visible spike in the number of terrorists killed on an annual basis. Compared to 2016, 30 more terrorists (totalling 180) have been neutralised by the armed forces this year.
However, there are no signs of peace descending on the Valley anytime soon. Evidently, fire cannot be fought with fire, and the knotty issue of Kashmir can be resolved only by the political stakeholders in the Valley. This is easier said than done. Appointing former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as an interlocutor to bring all political representatives on the same page is a gamble that might not pay off well. The separatist Hurriyat Conference, as it is, sees the current regime through a warped lens and it is quite likely that Sharma’s appointment will be seen by the separatists as a hollow move meant only to create the right noise. Sharma’s mission has already received a body blow.
Reports suggest that separatist leaders like Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik have refused to meet him. To Sharma’s credit, he is still optimistic and has gone on record to state that “he will try his best” to meet the Hurriyat leaders. Irrespective of how Sharma perceives this snub, the government must not ignore the affront that has been hurled at it via its representative. If the Hurriyat is not willing to come to the table to talk peace, then the government must spare no effort to ensure that Hurriyat’s clout is cut drastically from the socio-political fabric of Kashmir.
One initiative in this direction is the NIA crackdown on these separatist leaders. New Delhi must ensure that the full force of the Indian state is visited upon these leaders, leaving them little time or energy to ideate about a free Kashmir. Secondly, an information blitzkrieg should be effected that highlights that giving in to the seductive narrative of terrorism will yield no dividend for Kashmiri youth. The Central government has its work cut out for such a campaign given that the memories of pellet attacks are still raw in the minds of those youth.
On the other hand, there is need to have greater leverage against National Conference, especially Dr Farooq Abdullah. His comment that PoK belongs to Pakistan does not help the cause of engendering long-term peace in the Valley. Abdullah has a long history of making politically convenient statements with the sole intention of cashing in on wherever the wind is blowing. With the rise in anti-India sentiment in the Valley, the former J&K Chief Minister realises very well that the flagging spirits of the NC can be revived only by making such divisive and rather inflammatory declarations. As far as the people of the state are concerned, there should be an emphasis on revitalising the tourist traffic. Hopefully, with higher disposable income, the war cry for azaadi will take a backseat.
