After Kargil

By Siraj Shah

Not only did Pakistan have to face its worst defeat and humiliation for her misadventure in Kargil, but it also got exposed in the international arena as a sole sponsor of militancy in Kashmir. After three unsuccessful attempts to take Kashmir by force it is high time now for those at the helm of affairs in Pakistan to accept this reality and give up their armed approach in favour of a meaningful dialogue.

Nawaz Sharief, must be given credit for his courageous move in signing the Washington Declaration, knowing that he would have to face a fierce opposition from fundamentalist elements back home. But the truth is that, a vast majority of peace loving people of Kashmir as well as India and Pakistan felt relieved that the Kargil conflict did not escalate into a full-scale fourth Indo-Pak war with devastating consequences.

India on the other hand has not only scored a moral and diplomatic victory over Pakistan on domestic as well as international front, but also gained the support of superpowers like Britain and America in favour of its policy to settle Kashmir problem peacefully. Even China, a traditional ally of Pakistan declined to back her actions in Kashmir. Finally the support from European Union, P-5, G-8 and the Asean Regional Forum has given a further boost to India for showing restraint in dealing with cross border terrorism from its neighbouring country Pakistan.

India's victory in Kargil has not only boosted the morale of its armed forces, fighting a depressing low key war of attrition in Kashmir for the past 10 years, but it will also help to strengthen BJP's stand in their forthcoming elections. The party is bound to re-emerge as a strong, popular and decisive ruling party---unlike its predecessor congress party that is largely responsible for the present unrest and turmoil in Kashmir.

The recent meeting between Mr Clinton and Nawaz Sharief convened at Islamabad's request is an indication of Pakistan's growing desperation in the Kashmir conflict. A joint statement issued by the White House said they agreed that it is vital for the peace in south Asia that the LOC in Kashmir be respected by both parties, in accordance with the 1972 Simla accord.

Despite three Indo-Pak wars neither India nor Pakistan it seems are prepared to part with the territory of Kashmir under their control, the only option now for both is to focus on sincere and meaningful negotiations. In the best interests of Kashmir and a durable peace in South Asia, both India and Pakistan should seriously undertake confidence building measures while putting a stop to all those activities that breed mistrust and hostilities between them.

With almost every country now determined to see an end to global terrorism and ready to take punitive measures against those that breed or sponsor such activities--- any hopes of resolving vexed Kashmir issue through gun are remote.

It is impossible to give a rational explanation of human behaviour when we look at the colossal loss of human life; massive displacement of people and economic destruction of Kashmir during the last ten years of armed conflict. The people of Kashmir now owe it to themselves and their future generations to save their Himalayan paradise from becoming another Afghanistan.

Time and again, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have proven that they will not succumb to outside pressures aimed at destroying their centuries old traditions of brotherhood and tolerance in the state. Now is the time for people of the state to demonstrate, once again, their collective will and determination to bring an end to the present alien philosophy of violence and bloodshed which is choking Kashmir.

The people of Kashmir who have suffered immensely in this 52 year old tragic post partition Indo-Pak rivalry, the most honourable way forward is to go for a negotiated peaceful settlement, securing maximum autonomy as a first step for both sides of Kashmir. Simultaneously, the well-meaning people of India, Pakistan and Kashmir must all work together to create an atmosphere conducive for free socio-economic interchange and development between the two autonomous Kashmir regions.