Delhi’s responsibility vis-à-vis Kashmir is 100 pc

Arun Joshi

The fault lines in Jammu and Kashmir have not disappeared, but the way of looking at these now has to change in the national interest. This change should be attributed to the "rewriting historical moment" on August 5 last year - the day J&K ceased to be state, and its special status was scrapped before its division into two Union Territories (UTs).

This has changed the whole context and outlook of Delhi and the rest of the world. Delhi claims it did the best for J&K. Time has come for Delhi to live up to its own commitment and expectations that it generated among people.

International concerns over Kashmir got amplified in the past few weeks, and in all fairness, Delhi acknowledged these issues. It conducted a two-day visit of Delhi-based ambassadors of 15 countries to give substance to its narrative of the return of normalcy. It has also restored mobile voice calls in full measure, though the Internet is yet to make its full presence. But, things are far from being ideal.

The August 5 decision, though followed by strict restrictions, brought newer facts to life. Kashmiris experienced a never-before-seen lockdown. And also they did not practise their old ways of protesting through violence on streets, inviting casualties. That being that, international concerns were still occupying space at many places in the world.

Delhi articulated quite aggressively its traditional line that Kashmir is its "internal issue". It was endorsed by a number of countries, including those where Islamic flags define their identity. This was a manifestation of the strong Indian leadership and its handling of the foreign policy.

In international relations - leave chronic irritation of Pakistan aside - it becomes important to know why the world capitals and leaders are saying, what they are saying. Some of them are friends, playing the role of true friends and defending all actions of the friendly countries. Others simply cannot afford to annoy India for their own reasons. Each and every country in the world is guided by its own interests, especially in the new world order where political and economic interests drive the diplomacy.

A stark fact, however, is that post 9/11, no country wants to be seen supporting terrorism, directly or indirectly. That explains the fate of two informal meetings of the United Nations Security Council convened by China on Kashmir in October last year and January, 2020. Pakistan is a known terror-harbouring and exporting state in South Asia.

India had effectively placed Kashmir as a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Its logic that the constitutional provisions granting J&K special status and conferring special rights and privileges to its permanent residents were causing troubles sounded plausible to some of the diplomatic world.

Some countries have intensely criticised Indian moves on Kashmir - they mixed partial version of the facts with their own fiction. India, as an emerging power at the world stage could not have run the risk of ignoring the critical voices. Big countries have big responsibilities, too. It needs to provide credible and convincing answers.

In the changed milieu, Delhi has to acknowledge certain realities that the whole of the world doesn't share Indian view on Kashmir.

Now, it cannot blame Article 370 for the secessionist sentiment and terrorism in Kashmir - for the simple reason that the particular constitutional provision - has been done away with once and for all. The statehood has been dissolved, hence the argument that the local political governments were at the root of the whole problem and responsible for fomenting trouble is not valid any more. Delhi might take refuge in the argument that it is battling the ill-consequences of acts of the previous governments.

Kashmir is Delhi's baby, and it must nurture it with extreme care deterring others to point out the fault lines in the process. It must ensure that it delivers on its promise to better the future of J&K. The world is watching it.

‘Things far from ideal’

International concerns over Kashmir got amplified in the past few weeks, and in all fairness, Delhi acknowledged these issues. It conducted a two-day visit of Delhi-based ambassadors of 15 countries to give substance to its narrative of the return of normalcy. It has also restored mobile voice calls in full measure, though the Internet is yet to make its full presence. But, things are far from being ideal