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| Why should Pak allow Mufti to succeed in J&K? | | 
By K B Jandial
Two terror attacks on Kathua and Samba on two consecutive days coinciding with the opening of the first session of the 12th Assembly in Jammu should be enough to remove everybody’s “illusions” about Pakistan. Coming close on heels of a slew of controversies in the very first week of incarnation of PDP-BJP Govt., these attacks came at the most inopportune time for it. Even if the blame is put on the “non-state actors” and not on Pakistan, their mentors for these terror attacks, the stark reality remains that Pakistan does not want continued normalcy in J&K, the annexation of which continues to top its domestic agenda. Peace and normalcy in J&K run counter to the interests of Pakistan and it would do everything to derail the peace process. Pakistan has not displayed anything which ac be considered positive signal. Neither placating nor condemnation will make Pakistan to rein its fidayeens who would continue to be pushed here for terror attacks. International pressure does work at times.
In somewhat hopeful emerging situation following resumption of Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary level talks on India’s initiative, these fidayeen attacks should have prevented for continuation of talks. But, as the history tells, expecting cessation of terror activities would be too much from Pakistan & its political establishment. In fact, it is the army which calls the shots. Even though, as Vajpayee said, “we cannot change our neighbours” India needs to strategize its policy without relying much on Pakistan’s good neigbhourly behavior. No doubt, Pakistan is facing wrath of terrorism but it still cannot be trusted going by its categorization of “good Taliban and bad Taliban”. Mufti Sayeed’s advice would not dissuade Pakistan from its policy of promoting cross border terrorism in J&K. Let there be no misgiving on it. More than Pakistan we need to trust our gallant security forces for preventing terror attacks.
Why did Pakistan or for that matter its “non-state actors” choose the timing of attacks coinciding with first session of newly elected Assembly? Is it a part of some conspiracy to scuttle the process of reconciliation and meaningful dialogue even before it took off? Is there any subtle message for Mufti who is pushing agenda of dialogue, both internal and external? Many feel that the “non state actors” have embarrassed Mufti. Is it because that Mufti has huge potential to turn around the situation having bearing on internal dimension of Kashmir issue which probably had motivated Modi to tie-up with PDP. Pakistan will never allow Mufti- Modi combo to succeed in Kashmir.
One is willing to give margin to the North Pole-South Pole Govt which deserved some time, if not honeymoon period, to settle down and get on to the business. But it got into controversies from day one of its incarnation. Mufti’s unnecessary “praise” for Pakistan, militants and APHC for smooth conduct of the electoral process created ruckus in the Parliament with huge embarrassment to BJP whose Pakistan bashing policy is well known. There could be some merit in the argument that all the stakeholders needed to be brought on board for initiation of the process of reconciliation which is also reflected in “Agenda for Alliance”. It could also be an attempt to “convince” the people of Jammu and elsewhere in the country about the “positive” role of Pakistan in the otherwise anti-Pakistan environment, and to prepare ground for meaningful dialogue. But it is difficult for the vast majority of Indians to accept Pakistan’s sincerity given its track record right from 1947. Even though it could possibly be a “slip of tongue” as some political analysts and commentators feel, or an essential political “noise” to address PDP’s core constituency in the wake of tie up with BJP, the remarks was not received well in the country. Mufti was quick in making amends in the Assembly by giving credit to intuitions to which it was due- ECI, state administration and the people of the state, for successful conduct of assembly election.
Putting up a brave face in the Assembly even in the wake of Rajbagh terrorists’ attack, Mufti displayed determination to pursue revocation of AFSPA, which is another explosive issue between BJP-PDP as both parties have publically articulated divergent views and so is the diverse opinion in both the regions. But it appears from their “Agenda for Alliance” some middle ground have already been found. To meet the general acceptability, the best course would be to leave it to the judgment of the Defence Ministry and the Central and State leadership take a joint holistic view on it. In any case Mufti is correct in asking the army to ensure accountability of the soldiers who cannot have licence to take life of innocents on suspicion under the cover of immunity. BJP is required to articulate on this issue and sensitize the people to abridge the perceptional gap on AFSPA so that there is again no ruckus or cries of compromising security when some decision is announced.
The coalition has survived the Masarat storm even though the BJP was left red-faced. While the PDP took no time in taking credit for the bold initiative to release political prisoners but the facts that were revealed three days later speak of legal compulsion rather than political initiative. There was total silence by the BJP camp. The Parliament and the nation were “shocked” by the sudden announcement of his release. Masarat is better known as author of stone- pelting protests that took lives of 120 persons in 2010 unrest and earlier “ragdra-ragdra, deh bharat ko ragdra” agitation in Srinagar. It is an undeniable fact that Musarat Alam had become nuisance for the Govt. and his arrest was desired even by leading lights of APHC as he had become a challenge to its leadership.
Musarat’s continued detention under PSA or any other law had both political and security overtones. The Supreme Court had ordered in March 2013 that ‘in case a fresh detention order is issued against Musarat Alam, the same shall not come into force for a period one week from the date of communication of the order to enable him to pursue appropriate remedy’. How the SC order of March 2013 was overlooked while issuing fresh detention order on 15 September, 2014 which too lapsed even before it reached State Home Deptt. The detention order had become legally inoperative in September 2014 itself for failure to confirm Advisory Board. Either a fresh order was to be issued or set him free in September itself. Hence there should not be any issue had it not been mishandled which deprived Mufti of its political gain.
The local BJP leaders who were muted on this issue, left it the Central leadership to handle it that fuelled an impression that BJP was in the loop till Home Minister and P M strongly discounted it. Modi had to reassure the Parliament and the nation that BJP would not compromise the national interest for survival of the PDP-BJP alliance. Later, the BJP had to fall in line by justifying in the Parliament the release of Masarat Alam on technical ground.
More than the security issue, Musarat’s release became a controversy for not keeping Union Home Ministry in loop. When the veteran separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Farooq and host of pro- azadi leaders are spreading venom against India and openly meeting Pak High commissioner what dangers one can expect from Masarat Alam who declined Pakistan Day celebration invite.
PDP leaders have also made an issue of detention of “thousands of innocent people” a ground for release of political leaders. Now, it is official that there is only one political prisoner in the jail. Mufti himself corrected the erroneous perception when he told the Assembly that there are only 37 detainees under PSA, 20 of them are Pakistanis. The police also said that there are in all 205 prisoners in jails including under PSA. Others include militants and over ground workers who are trouble makers.
Echoing Engineer Rashid and five congress MLAs, the leaders of ruling PDP too demanded return to Kashmir the mortal remains of the executed parliament attack convict, Afzal Guru. BJP is again averse to promoting such sentiments.
Right from the negotiation on composition of the Govt. the BJP appears to have agreed to play second fiddle to PDP. It agreed to have only six cabinet Ministers (including Sajjad Lone) against eleven of PDP despite having equal number of MLAs. What was the compulsion or rationale for accepting only 35% share for Jammu in the cabinet? Not keeping Jammu’s representation on equal footing is initial shocker. In the lighter vein, does it correspond with usually talked about two and half districts for Jammu? Not that Mufti Sayeed would work against Jammu’s interests but the people would like to know the logic of sacrificing cabinet berths without any otherwise visible gain for Jammu.
Composition of Public Service Commission is far from respectability and antecedents of many not in the public domain. Do they meet the SOP prescribed by the Governor while rejecting Omar Govt. panel.
PDP leaders’ remarks can be a calculated strategy to negate the possible fall-out of its tie-up with one time “untouchable” organization in Kashmir against which it vehemently campaigned with all sorts of accusations during electioneering. It is to make initial movement forward on its agenda. But the BJP is not taking any initiative on its pro Jammu agenda. Disappointment is fast seeping into their cadre and Jummuites by their silence on all major issues.BJP leaders and supporters in social gatherings are increasingly becoming sheepish in the face of sarcasm for the party’s failure to air Jammu issues and match up to PDP on important issues.
Both these diametrically divergent alliance partners have to stand by their cadre and the promises on which they got the mandate in respective regions. In view of mandate split on regional lines they had to enter into a marriage of “inconvenience” to respect the regional mandate. As Mufti Sayeed says, this unusual meeting of North Pole South Pole has to be converted into an opportunity to deliver which previous Governments failed. People still have lot of expectations from the alliance govt. They have to avoid controversies by resisting the temptation of talking about issues or deciding sensitive matters unilaterally that has potential of embarrassing the partner and get down to the business of governance. This is the biggest challenge before the coalition.
(The writer is former Secretary information, health, transport, CAPD departments and a member of Public Service Commission,feedback:[email protected])
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)
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