KASHMIR SITUATION

Autonomy; No Panacea Ramesh Khazanchi in The Times of India, 12 August, 1996

Every incumbent Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi has deemed it politically expedient to promise a fresh dose of autonomy to J&K, perceiving it to be the way out of the seemingly dead end. This approach can at best be qualified as cosmetic. In the recent past, Narasimha Rao, declared "anything short of azadi" with a view to alluring militants to the negotiating table.

Similarly, PM, Deve Gowda's promise for "more autonomy" for the state is a preposterous and retrograde step. For one, the people of Kashmir have never demanded "more autonomy", let alone violently demonstrated against its erosion-real or imaginary. The insurgency since 1989, is unmistakably Pakistan- sponsored and has nothing to do with autonomy. And "dilution" of Article 370 has been endorsed and ratified by the duly elected assembly of J&K from time to time since 1947 and, without a whiff of protest, "extensions to, or dilution Article 370" have in due course become an inalienable part of the state's socio-political milieu. Dangerous Results: Once autonomy is made "negotiable it will surely open up a Pandora's box. Restoration of pre-1953 status. "Tampering" with these laws is fraught with dangerous consequences as it will be tantamount to turning the clock back, and further "alienating" Kashmiris from the Union. Article 370 was envisaged by its architects as a provision which would facilitate as a provision which would facilitate to bring Kashmiri masses into the national mainstream, and fall like deciduous leaves once the people there took root in the pan-Indian democratic polity. Pandit Nehru, an ardent advocate of preserving Kashmir's identity, had at the very inception said that Article 370 was an "unusual provision" which was by no means final." This was reiterated by him in a 1962 letter in which he said "it (Article 370) was gradually waning away". Even the 1975 accord, which saw Sheikh Abdullah catapulted back to power after a protracted incarceration outside Kashmir, was to all intents and purposes evasive on the polemics of autonomy.

If, at this stage, original nomenclature - titles such as Sadr-i-Riyasat for the governor of J&K, Wazir-i-Azam (Prime Minister) for the CM- is reverted to as a sop, among other things, it will, ipso facto, amount to conceding that the state is not an integral entity of India. Is the intention, under the garb of more autonomy that the Centre propose to undo what (US) has assiduously achieved during the last four decades? If the idea is to declare null and void the laws that have been made applicable to J&K the proposition will be more flawed and perilous than one granting total independence to the state.

Economic Freedom: At this stage political sagacity and realism call for the revival of measures initiated by the late Sheikh Abdullah, such as a 99-year lease for non- state subjects to set up industry in J&K. This would bolster the state's moribund economy and open up employment opportunities for the youth caught in the crossfire of militancy and joblessness. Let the stress be on economic rather than political freedom with a view to winning back the people's confidence in the Indian polity as a welfare state if the Gordian knot in the Valley is to be cut.

OIC: Declaration on Jammu and Kashmir,

Islamabad, 13 August, 1996

The Ministerial Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir held at Islamabad on 13 August, 1996.

Concerned over the staging of fraudulent elections for the Lok Sabha in Occupied Kashmir, an outrage that was exposed and denounced by international media and human right organizations,

Deeply concerned over announcement by the Indian Government of its intention to hold State Assembly elections in Occupied Kashmir in September, 1996 and noting that the All Parties Hurriyat Conference has in its capacity as the true Representatives of the Kashmiri people rejected the holding of sham elections and the imposition under duress of the so-called political process in Kashmir.

Noting the Memorandum submitted by the True Representative of J&K, which inter-alia, asserts that the people of J&K will not accept the imposition of a fraudulent political process in Kashmir and that the so- called political a process or elections could not be a substitute for a plebiscite as is affirmed in Security Council Resolutions No. 91 (1951) and 122(1957);

Welcoming the offer of the P.M. of Pakistan to have a substantive and meaningful dialogue with India with a view to finding a peaceful solution to the J&K dispute,

Reaffirming its solidarity with the suffering people of Kashmir:

·       Reaffirms the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations Resolutions.

·       Calls for a peaceful settlement of the J&K issue in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and as agreed upon the Simla Agreement.

·       Rejects India's efforts to maintain its illegal occupation of Kashmir through the holding of sham elections and by initiating a fraudulent political process.

·       Reaffirms that any political process/elections held under foreign occupation cannot be a substitute to the exercise of the right of self-determination of people of Kashmir.

·       Condemns the continued massive violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people and calls for respect of the human rights.

·       Calls upon the Government of India to respect the human rights of the Kashmiri people, rescind forthwith all repressive measures and endeavor to improve the situation in Kashmir.

·       Endorses the ongoing efforts of the Government of Pakistan to seek a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through all possible means including substantive bilateral talks with India.