Another non-starter

In the midst of this flawed approach, Kashmir continues to be in flames. The violence and repressive rule of the puppet state government in Held Kashmir is fuelling a new wave of struggle for independence: a second violent uprising in the region is now gathering momentum. Tactics like arrests, curfews and extrajudicial killings are common. There is also truth in claims that the government was trying to convert the Muslim majority to a minority by resorting to schemes like giving a big chink of forestland to a Hindu Shrine Board for the purpose of building permanent structures for yatrees. The subsequent protests, the largest in two decades, shook the whole region. The Indian forces felt no scruples in killing scores of innocent protesters. But that is not all that is to the problem, the Indians are using Kashmir as a route for blocking the water flowing into Pakistan. It is a pity that while Prime Minister Singh was meeting President Zardari in New York, our crops were suffering because of lack of water that had been cut of by India and stored in the controversial Baglihar Dam. In August alone, it reduced about 60 percent of the water flowing into Pakistan in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The point is that New Delhi is in no way willing to listen to reason or to the voice of the people, be it through CBMs or any other method for that matter. We have before us the example of the previous regime, which despite showing a great deal of flexibility failed to turn the corner with India. This was however the natural outcome as the core issue was deliberately relegated to the background. The leaders must address the call for independence first.