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Kashmir : Most parties favour peace via economic partnership

	January 15, 2007

As India and Pakistan agreed in Islamabad to have the fourth round of the composite dialogue on March 13 and 14, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have come out in favour of building peace in the state via economic partnership.



Special Economic Zones to drive entrepreneurship on either side of Kashmir and a possible consultative mechanism on water, trade, tourism, and culture - these are some of the ideas thrown up during loud thinking by political parties in Jammu and Kashmir.



The state Congress, led by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, has indicated that it is not averse to a mechanism for exchange of ideas and consultations on water resource utilization, tourism and culture and trade. The PDP, a partner in the ruling coalition, is also for exploring the possibilities in these areas.



The National Conference, says Omar Abdullah, would like SEZs on both sides of Kashmir on the lines of those in Switzerland or the Channel Islands. Omar, who met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee along with his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in New Delhi on Jan. 8, feels such special packages could be considered since the approach seemed to be one of flexibility. “One could even look at a political model on the lines of Switzerland, with substantial regional autonomy,” he said.



Some of these suggestions are for the negotiating table when it comes to Kashmir, especially in the light of President Musharraf’s four-point formula, including troop withdrawal, self-rule, no changes to the borders and joint-management.



Azad thinks Musharraf’s proposals should be taken in a manner that benefits all - India, Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir and Pak-occupied Kashmir. “We could begin by taking up water, tourism, culture and trade,” he said.





Three-pronged strategy for the peace process



Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that there is a three-pronged strategy to take the peace process forward. He said, “We have involved Pakistan, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and separatists in talks. Round tables with all sections and the confidence building measures have been successful.”



Azad who was hosting Ambassadors of several nations at an expo of Kashmiri handicrafts in New Delhi on Jan. 13, said there was a need to bolster the handicrafts industry in the valley.



Pointing out that terrorism had an adverse impact on tourism and the handicrafts sector, he said, “militancy has been responsible for reducing the inflow of tourists and because of this the handicrafts industry has suffered a setback.”





No certainty about Manmohan-Farooq meeting



It is not clear whether the Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq would be able to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before he leaves for Pakistan on Jan. 18. The Mirwaiz had sought a meeting with Dr. Manmohan Singh before his discussions with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad.



On the possibility of a ceasefire, the Mirwaiz said in Srinagar on Jan. 11, “the Government of India should take the initiative and the militants should reciprocate.” As far as taking the peace process ahead was concerned, he said, the ball is in Delhi’s court. He said the change in the situation should be felt on the ground. “Unless people feel that the situation is changing, it will not help.”



In the meantime, leaders of Pakistan occupied Kashmir have said that they want institutionalised inter-action between people on both sides of the line of control. The socalled Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said in Islamabad, he wanted a dialogue with the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, and to invite professionals such as doctors and engineers from the state to visit and work in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.



Attique Ahmed Khan said a dialogue between Kashmiris on both sides of the line of control could become part of the process for evolving a common strategy for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.



“We have been asking for intra-Kashmir dialogue for a very long time, that this should be facilitated. It is partially available, but it has to be strengthened and given an institutional shape. All shades of opinion should be allowed to meet each other frequently so that the Kashmiris are able to make their contribution towards the peace process,” he said.



Welcoming the “positive response” of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to President Musharraf’s four-point formula for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, Khan said he appreciated the Indian response from the “bottom of my heart.”



Khan issued another public invitation - a formal offer might follow soon - to the “educated unemployed” in Jammu and Kashmir and professionals such as doctors, civil engineers, town planners and architects to work in PoK.



Referring to the objections of hardliners such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who accused Pakistan and Gen. Musharraf of a sell out to India on Kashmir, Khan expressed the hope that when the veteran Kashmiri leader and others like him saw “something positive happening on the ground,” they would no longer oppose the peace process.



The Pakistan-based Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, reacting to efforts being made for a settlement of the Kashmir issue, has said that it will fight tooth and nail any solution of the Kashmir problem that is not based on “freely expressed and unfettered will” of the people of the entire Jammu and Kashmir state. In a statement, JKLF chairman Ammanullah Khan said, his organisation is in favour of emergence of Jammu and Kashmir as an independent state with a secular system of government.