There is a sense of fatigue on both sides of the border and a strong desire for peace. The leaders may still differ on the issue of one point, that the solution cannot be found by use of arms, and that a peaceful dialogue is the only answer. It needs to be noticed that the Hizb's Kashmir cease-fire may have been short-lived but has changed the State's politics forever.
For instance, leaders in the State, including secessionists and pro-Pakistan elements have acknowledged the fact that the Central Government headed by the BJP, made a major turnaround when it agreed to hold talks with militants in Kashmir. This has also virtually finished the Hurriyat Conference as the voice of the Kashmir people. Its failure to carry forward the peace process has been noticed by people and with that its effectiveness as well as credibility has suffered. The divisions in the organisations became even sharper after there was a contest for the chairmanship of the conference in which Morvi Farooq and A.G. Lone were defeated by a single vote leading to the installation of Prof. Bhat as the Chairman.
The immediate impact was that the Molvi chose to withdraw from politics by taking two years study leave while A.G. Lone became busy trying to revive the People's Conference. A political convention was organized in Srinagar last week., and the speech delivered by Lone in the meeting was significant as in this he blamed both India and Pakistan for the Kashmir problem He suggested that the solution could be found if, besides the two countries, the people of the State were also made. A party to it.
Lone is slowly but surely disassociating himself from hard-core elements and is preparing the ground for a peaceful solution. His hint that a dialogue may start soon also indicates that situation has changed in J&K and the majority leans towards a peaceful solution ..
These changes have come about as a result of a realistic assessment of the Kashmir situation by leaders on both sides of the dividing line. The leaders on our side are aware that India's democracy gives them a better chance to put across their viewpoint and can help create conditions in which Kashmir's identity can be maintained. On paper, the area under Pakistani occupation may be free, but is, in reality, being governed with a strong hand by Islamabad, where the generals in power take all the important decisions ... It may come as a surprise to leaders on both sides of the border that the Kashmiri leaders are far closer to a settlement or an agreement than the reports suggest. For instance, there is almost a near-agreement on a ceasefire being revived in the state at the earliest. This has led to a split in Hurriyat and a break in the ranks of fundamentalist outfits like the Jamaat-e-Islami.
At present it is split between the followers of its present Chief G.M. Bhat and Gilani. Bhat is reported to have bought peace for his followers through a secret understanding with Farooq Abdullah, by assuring him that his followers have nothing to do with the ongoing Jihad in the State and should not be targeted by the paramilitary forces ... Lone, another player in Kashmir politics, may have travelled a long way since the time he was associated with the Congress and the Janata Dal, but his desire to preserve Kashmiriyat or his secular credentials can not be questioned. The combination of many such new players can throw up an opportunity for finding a solution to the problem. It will, however, depend to a large extent on the approach adopted by New Delhi and Islamabad ...
The actions of the ISI and the induction of foreign elements have certainly complicated the situation ... The time has therefore come when the search for alternative solutions should begin in Kashmir. (Source: The Pioneer, 13 October, 2000)
