The announcement by the Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik that Hurriyat is ready for talks has again brought some hurly-burly in the state politics. Malik claimed that there has been a significant improvement in the situation in  Kashmir. The incidents of stone pelting have drastically reduced and recruitments of militants have almost stopped.  There have been mixed reactions from all quarters-some laced with optimism and hope while others treating it as same old rhetoric by the Hurriyat just to remain relevant in the state politics, however, the response from various factions of the Hurriyat was either missing or very mild this time. It was not long ago when Hurriyat leaders had shut the doors on Ram Vilas Paswan, a Union Minister in BJP led NDA Government in 2016 and refused to enter into any dialogue with the Centre.

Mehbooba Mufti, former CM of coalition Government (PDP-BJP) of Jammu & Kashmir, picking threads from the Governor’s statement, welcomed the Hurriyat’s willingness for the talks with the central government. She also reiterated that the main purpose of PDPs alliance with BJP in was to facilitates the talks between Centre and all stakeholders for peaceful resolution of Jammu & Kashmir.

However, Hurriyat Conference-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, though placidly, again called for involving Pakistan for resolution of Kashmir, which is not acceptable to New Delhi being an internal matter.

Visit of Home Minister Amit Shah

Amit Shah had visited Srinagar on 25- 26 June to review Amarnath yatra arrangements, assess security situation and take stock of various infrastructure development programs. Surprisingly, for the first time,there was no shutdown call by Hurriyat and more so,  no Hurriyat leader issued any statement prior or after the visit of the Home Minister. The Kashmir valley remained calm with routine activities wherein markets were open, no restriction on movement of traffic. He also visited the family of police Inspector Arshad Khan, who was killed in militant attack in Anantnag district on June 12. The two days visit was without any interruptions or issue.

Is Hurriyat softening its stand

Viewpoint

Pakistan’s obsession with Kashmir led to three Indo- Pak wars. When these wars could not produce desired results, it resorted to General Zia-ul-Haque’s theory of “Bleed India by thousand cuts “..Accordingly terrorist organizations were created, financed, trained and were extended with all possible support to launch a covert war to wrest the Kashmir from India. It is with this aim, the  All Hurriyat Party Conference (AHPC) was created in 1993 to provide a political platform to 23 pro-Pak political, social and religious parties drawn in armed conflict as almost all of them having militant wing and become a vital part of the overall design of Pakistan’s proxy war against India.

Pressure on Pakistan

Post Pulwama terror attack, India has hardened its stand and stepped up efforts to exert pressure on Pakistan to take sustained and irreversible actions against terrorist groups operating from its territory to prevent such attacks in the future. India’s unrelenting diplomatic efforts able to mobilizing world opinion in designating, Masood  Azhar, the mastermind of Pulwama terror attack, a global Terrorist by the  United Nation.  India has also revoked the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan and simultaneously imposed a host of other restrictions to include non-tariff measures, banning certain goods and simultaneously enhancing the import duties on goods from Pakistan. Pakistan has already been placed in Gray list by Financial Action Task Force(FATF) and given 27-  point action plan to be complied with by September 2019 to avoid Blacklisting. This will further add wretchedness to already crumbling Pak economy. Pakistan has no choice but to put an end to terror financing which will impinge on the Hurriyat most,  being prime beneficiaries to conduct terrorist activities in Jammu & Kashmir.

Tightening the noose around  Separatists

The aftermath of Pulwama terror attack, Centre firmly resolved to take decisive actions against Hurriyat leaders and withdrew the security cover, marked the beginning of ‘ tightening the noose’ around the separatists. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate(ED), claimed having ample evidence against the Hurriyat leaders,  commenced probe in terror funding and disproportionate Asset cases respectively. It appears that Hurriyat has lost its steam and find itself isolated from the masses in the valley.

Zero tolerance on terrorism

Home Minister,  Amit Shah,  in a security review meeting during his recent visit to Kashmir,  gave unambiguous directions to security forces to show zero tolerance in dealing with terrorism and terrorists and law of the land must be enforced.

Notwithstanding, the center has signaled that talks may be held to bring peace and prosperity in  Jammu and Kashmir but strictly under the framework of the Constitution.

03 Jul 19/Wednesday                                       Written by Fayaz