|
Kashmir : New road map |
 |
B.I. Saini
The Prime Minister’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir has set out the Centre’s new road map for settling the internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue. At the same time, a message has gone to Pakistan spelling out what is acceptable and what cannot be countenanced.
The new plan announced by Dr. Manmohan Singh for the economic development of the state indicates that the Centre is conscious of one of the main factors responsible for the unrest and insurgency in Kashmir. The problem of unemployment is both a contributing factor as well as a result of the insurgency in the State. The Jammu and Kashmir economy has suffered tremendous damage because of terrorist activities. Tourism is one of the mainstays of the economy. Tourist inflow had almost come to a halt till about two or three years back. This had led to large scale unemployment especially among the youth. But with progressive efforts, tourism started picking up a couple of years back. It is still not at the level at which it was in the seventies and eighties when during the summer, tourists found it very difficult to get accommodation in Srinagar and other major centres.
The other major industry of Jammu and Kashmir, the fruit industry, was also badly hit by militancy. The terrorists made the transport system a target of their attacks and as a result the Kashmir apple found it very difficult to reach the major consuming centres in time. It also made the cost of travel and transportation very high in the state. In the seventies and eighties, the bulk of the tourists from other parts of the country used to go to Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley by train upto Jammu and by road thereafter. With terrorism raising its ugly head, road traffic between Jammu and Srinagar almost came to a halt, especially in the case of buses, cars and taxies. In such circumstances, the only option left for the tourists was to reach Srinagar by air, which the low-cost tourist can ill-afford. This is one reason tourism flourished all these years in states like Himachal Pradesh and the hills of western Uttar Pradesh at the expense of the Jammu and Kashmir tourism industry.
A significant aspect of the new economic plan announced by the Prime Minister is the opening up of Central Government recruitment in the state. Efforts are to be made to employ more Kashmiri youth in the security forces. It will create 10,000 new jobs every year in the state. Greater economic activity is also expected to lead to creation of more employment opportunities in other sectors.
The Prime Minister has sent a clear message to Pakistan President Musharraf. While India is prepared to discuss all issues under the Sun, there can be no compromise that either entails redrawing of the international boundaries or further division of the country on the basis of religion. This is clearly a response to the proposals or formula suggested by Gen. Pervez Musharraf at the Iftaar party in Islamabad. India has already made clear earlier that it will not accept any third party mediation or intervention for the solution of the Kashmir issue.
India’s strategy to solve the Kashmir issue is pretty clear now. At the internal level, the Centre is prepared for talks with not only the Hurriyat, but also with all other organisations provided there are no preconditions of the type put forth by the Hurriyat. Dr. Manmohan Singh made it clear that while the Centre has an open mind on Hurriyat leaders visiting Pakistan, it cannot be made a pre-condition for resumption of talks. Externally, the Prime Minister has spelt out the parameters for taking forward the process for solving the Kashmir issue so far as Pakistan is concerned.
|
