Kashmir's Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy

More than 700 insurgents currently in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) have expressed the desire to return under the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy. Until now, relatives of more than 700 insurgents have made applications to offices of various superintendents of police in the state. These applications would be forwarded to various intelligence agencies for complete verification. Home Commissioner B.R. Sharma has recently disclosed this, and added that after complete investigation of the applicant, the file might be forwarded to the Federal Home Affairs Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry. After approval of the two ministries, insurgents would be permitted to return.
Initiated Measures
Until now, approximately175 applications have been received. Of these, 20 have been verified at the state level, and their cases forwarded to the central government. After receiving clearance from the central government, these insurgents would be allowed to return. Sharma disclosed that verification of 175 applicants is on, and added that their cases may soon be forwarded to the federal government. From this, it appears that the state government is serious in rehabilitating these insurgent youths, and has initiated measures in this regard. Yet, there is a sterling query that some of these insurgent youths have got married in Muzaffarabad, and also have children. These children should be grown up now. Therefore, what does the government thinks in such cases, and what kind of policy has been formulated in this regard.
Such insurgents may be allowed to bring their families, wife, and children along them, but they would enjoy the position of Pakistani citizens. Their visas would continue to be extended until the time to the Indian Government confers them the right of being Indian citizens. To gain this status, they would have to fulfill certain conditions.
Harsh and Stringent
Youths residing across the border are said to have abandoned guns, and have taken up regular jobs, and their children are studying there. If rules and regulations for their return were harsh and stringent, how would they stage a comeback? If a Kashmiri youth remained unmarried in PoK, he may easily come back, but those having families would it extremely difficult to return. Their relatives here have said that it may prove a hard nut to crack for such people. They said if families of such youths get impeded because of harsh rules, how could they leave their children across the border, and come back?
In fact, they cannot return at all. It is, therefore, necessary that the state government adopt a soft and flexible policy so that these insurgent youths, desirous of return, may come with their families. The government also maintains that the door of return for such youths would remain closed, who are involved in serious cases and are wanted by police. Doors for those insurgent youths would also remain closed against whom adverse remarks are filed by intelligence agencies.

Fresh International Efforts To Resolve Kashmir Dispute

The international Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has decided to take several steps on Kashmir. Apart from increasing the number of members of the Kashmir Coordination Group, it has also been decided to provide scholarship to Kashmiri students studying in universities and institutions of Muslim countries. It has also been decided to form a human rights commission on Kashmir, which would bring out a report on the Kashmir situation.
Visas to Kashmiris
Abdul Aleem, the special representative on Kashmir, gave this information in Brussels, where an international meeting on Kashmir had been held. This shows the OIC has become active over the Kashmir issue, and has started taking action. The UAE has started issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris. This practice has been started with the prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The UAE spokesperson said that issuing stapled visa was right since Kashmir was a disputed territory. There is no violation of any international law in this practice. China had also earlier granted stapled visas to Kashmiris on the ground that Kashmir was a disputed territory.
Need For International Lobbying
Meanwhile, two senior members of European Parliament have said it was in the interest of both India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. They said the two countries have been ignoring the Kashmir issue due to their vested interests. They said influence and domination of army in Pakistan has weakened democratic institutions.
To strengthen democracy, army had to be kept away from institutions. They felt the need for international lobbying on the Kashmir issue. They said Indian interests were linked with Europe. Europe could play a role in resolution of the problem. They said the Kashmir issue was the only issue that had been hampering the progress of the two neighboring countries. It is said the United States and the United Nations have been silent.
Track-Two Diplomatic Front
Kashmir has thereby been seeing a new turn in the situation. Countries of the world want this issue to be resolved. This can be done only through sincere efforts. Leaders of the two countries also want this. On Track-Two diplomatic front, former diplomats, former army officers, and civil society also want this issue to be resolved.
If this takes place, it can lead to freedom of South Asia from poverty and disease. If this issue remains unresolved, all other issues seem insignificant.

India-China Cooperation

The twists and turns in China-India relationship show no signs of disappearing in the near future. It is, however, equally necessary not to let these complications exceed a certain limit. Some progress might be made in this direction with the meeting between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi on 29 October.

Dr Singh and Jiabao have met 10 times in the last six years, as the Chinese leader observed when the two met. That is a high metric even for top leaders of neighboring countries. On each occasion there has been a degree of feel-good, considering that relations between Asia’s two biggest countries and fastest rising economies -- which also leave a mark on the world stage -- are not wrinkle-free. And yet, it is apparent to all that the frequency of contact hasn’t lent itself to the two countries moving to a stage of easy give-and-take in ties.

Common Interests
The Chinese prime minister will visit India in December. In order to make this visit a success, it is important to reduce the misgivings of the two countries. India and China are neighbors. Both are members of alliances like BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). They have common interests in matters like environment and world trade. They also work together in these fields. At the same time, it is also true that the two countries compete in economic and several foreign affairs, especially in spreading their influence in areas like East Asia and Africa. The old border dispute between India and China is yet to be solved. This often creates bitterness.

Dr Singh went ahead and raised all the troubling questions in the bilateral relationship that have surfaced of late -- China’s adopting a forward position in respect of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), its questioning of India’s sovereignty in Kashmir suggested by stapling -- not stamping, which is the international norm -- of visas for Jammu and Kashmir residents, Beijing’s offer of a stapled visa for a general who commands India’s Northern Army, (which had the effect of scuttling the military officer’s visit to China on a goodwill defense visit earlier this year), and the revival by Beijing of its claims over Arunachal Pradesh (after the Indian state had been officially shown as being part of India during the term of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee).

Exploring Possibilities
India intends to explore these possibilities as much as it can. Such joint efforts will help all countries to overcome poverty and backwardness quickly. Distrust and suspicion between India and China obstruct any progress in this direction. Even the dispute between India and Pakistan has been kept alive to a large extent on China's support.

China certainly completes with India in the economic field, but it also has problems with Indian democracy. Modern China has had a dictatorial form of government for more than 60 years. Having adopted a liberal economy, it is now going through difficulties of introducing a liberal political system. Prime Minister Jiabao had to face severe criticism from conservative forces for advocating such a system.

Lack of Equilibrium
Chinese are afraid that a close friendship with a big democratic country like India might create an urge for democracy in the country. Suppressed dissatisfaction and lack of equilibrium might come out in the open.

The other problem faced by China is that democratic Western countries and Japan pin hopes on India rather than on China's monopolistic economic strength. India is trying not to let these issues come in the way of mutual relationship, but China has its own reasons for being apprehensive.

Whither Resolution to Kashmir Issue?

The Kashmir issue has been hanging fire for the past six decades. It is the misfortune of Kashmir, recognized as a paradise on the earth, that it could not have peace ever since India's partition. Kashmir at present is divided into two parts. One part is with India while the other is under Pakistan's occupation. It is owing to this division that the two countries are striving to capture each other's territory.

Confrontation Between India and Pakistan
Kashmiris are stranded between the confrontations of the two countries. Both nations are employing military means and ways in order to retain their occupation. It is because of the military interference that a violent movement is created in the region. The Indian armed forces have been deployed throughout Jammu and Kashmir.

There is massive protest by the people in Kashmir against military deployment in the region. Kashmiris do not desire any kind of interference in the region. Identical conditions prevail in the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). There the Pakistani Government is not paying attention to the economic development there. Military activities are at their peak in this territory. The common people find themselves entrapped in the quagmire of poverty. That is why Kashmiris on both sides are irked by the two countries.

Allegation of Spreading Terrorism
It is distressing to note that the governments of the two countries are prolonging the Kashmir issue. India and Pakistan are leveling the allegation of spreading terrorism in this region against each other. Former Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor maintains that no decline has taken place in the support being extended by the Pakistani Government to armed formations active within Pakistan and despite the international pressure in the wake of the Mumbai attacks senior jihadi (crusader) leaders, including Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, are roaming free in its territory. Identical statements are forthcoming from the Pakistani Government and military.

The Pakistani Government maintains that is not interfering in Jammu and Kashmir. According to it the Jihad [crusade] in Jammu and Kashmir has been unleashed due to the highhandedness and excesses of the Indian Government and Kashmiris desire freedom from India and its government.

Sight for Resolution
The violent confrontation has intensified over the past two-and-half decades. Endeavors have been made at the international level several times to resolve the issue but to no avail. Nothing has come out of such attempts. One of the reasons is that both nations do not desire to solve the impasse. No interest is being evinced in the global-level politics. In such circumstances, no solution is in sight for the resolution of the Kashmir problem. It is the duty of the two countries to join heads with a view to explore an early solution to the issue hanging fire since the partition.

The international community should mete out justice to Kashmiris by coming forward without any further loss of time and help make the region a territory free of all disputes. India and Pakistan have already suffered a lot because of the Kashmir issue. They can ill afford to further linger on this problem. It would be better to solve it through bilateral talks peacefully.

BJP's Opposition To Return of Indians in PoK

Home Minister P. Chidambaram has agreed with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and has announced that Kashmiri youth who crossed the border and had gone to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would be forgiven and safe passage would be provided for their return. The decision has sent ripples in New Delhi, Srinagar, Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. This sudden and unexpected decision has led to a controversy.

The first to express his desire was union Health Minister and former state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to launch a countrywide agitation against it. Newly elected BJP president Nitin Gadkari had fixed 25 February for launch of the agitation in Jammu. The party has termed the decision dangerous.

Immediate Action for Success
Both pro-government and antigovernment elements have expressed their displeasure over the issue, while the National Conference has termed the acceptance of its recommendations a great success. The state Congress has welcomed Chidambaram's decision. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the decision and has tried to take credit for the same.

Separatists have termed the decision a conspiracy. They have said that the government should take immediate action for the success of a composite dialogue. Kashmiri pundits in Jammu and New Delhi have expressed disapproval of the decision. They said forgiving militants would amount to turning the clock back. Kashmiris in PoK have rejected the decision. They said that the Indian Government should withdraw the army and should give people the right to self-determination.

Major Hurdle
All are expressing their views and nobody can be stopped from doing so. As far as the BJP's opposition is concerned, it is an opposition party, which had been in power in the past. It rules in several states. On the whole the party does not enjoy countrywide acceptance. Many persons, including non-Muslims, consider it a communal and extremist Hindu party.

The party has enmity with Muslims. It wants to keep them backward. If any Muslim makes any protest, he is asked by the party to go to Pakistan. It considers all Muslims antinational and terrorists. However, when elections comes the party begs for Muslim votes. This party is opposed to Pakistan. It has decided to launch agitation against return of Indians from PoK.

However, when it is in power, it develops a soft corner for Pakistan. Atal Behari Vajpayee as prime minister shook hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. L.K. Advani paid obeisance at Jinnah's mausoleum in Pakistan and Jaswant Singh wrote a book favoring Jinnah.

Question of India's Internal Security

The points that have emerged at the two-day meeting on the country's internal security held in New Delhi pertain to the threats from cross-border terrorists and Maoists. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's views for the resolution of these problems deserve to be commented. Singh underlined the need to beef up vigilance at the Line of Control in view of increasing infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. He also spoke in terms of strengthening the country's security system in order to counter the threat of Maoist militants.

Antinational Activities
Meanwhile, union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has also sent across a stern signal to organizations engaged in antinational activities. He has warned militant organizations active in Pakistan that a crushing defeat will be inflicted upon them in the event of any conflict taking place.
Participating in the deliberations, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not only stressed the need to ponder over basic factors leading to the creation and spread of problem of Naxalism (Maoist guerillas) but also said that the problem can be overcome to a great extent if all people of the country are provided with benefits of economic prosperity. He made another significant point that terrorists today are under the influence of other countries and India has become a soft target as a soft state.
We feel that India has been recognized as a soft state since centuries. Since ancient times, countries of Central Asia such as Iran and Afghanistan targeted India when their dictatorial kings or tribal invaders trampled the country with a few thousand horse riders. They intended in India hundreds of times. In this regard it is astonishing to note the attitude that the Indian Government and citizens have been adopting on such occasions. We feel that we have not got to do so over the past years.
Militants often converge in large numbers in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir [PoK], and hold out threats to India. Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed also challenged India recently in Lahore by threatening that India should free Kashmir, failing which the sole option left is "Jihad" (crusade). He committed the folly of asking Indian Home Minister Chidambaram to meet him in Lahore. He also put forward his agenda to liberate Hyderabad from India. He also said that his organization has tested the Indian Army.

Beginning of India-Pakistan Talks
All this notwithstanding, India has taken a decision to restart talks with Pakistan, even as in the wake of the Mumbai attacks the Indian Government said it will not resume talks with Pakistan until it brings all the accused of the Mumbai attacks to justice. Now once again threats of Jihad have been held out openly by militant outfits from Pakistan. Despite all this, it is not known under which compulsions India has invited Pakistan for talks.
We are in complete agreement with the view that unless and until effective arrangements are made along the border with Pakistan the cross-border infiltration will continue due to which current conditions will persist unabated.

Adequate Steps Needed
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is right in saying that until basic defense amenities are not provided to millions of people the problem of Naxalism will continue and the internal security cannot be ensured until then. Simultaneously, it is also important for states to exercise full vigilance.
Doubtless, the country is very vast. Hence, problems also are varied to resolve, to which there cannot be readymade solutions. The conditions can be improved only through correct identification of the causes of every problem separately, followed by adequate steps to ensure internal security.