It is hard – in fact impossible – to understand how the matter of Kashmir, unresolved since 1947, can be determined without taking into account the views of the Kashmiri people. By right, they should have the main say, indeed the sole say in the matter, without intervention from other players. Sadly, India, under the hard-line government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems bent on denying this to the people of Kashmir, threatening in the past to remove legislation that grants Kashmir special status within India as a territory with an undetermined future. The latest manifestation of the Indian attitude came as the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi reacted unexpectedly strongly to a comment by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit stating that India would not object to the Hurriyat Conference leaders attending Pakistan Day celebrations. He was wrong. India did object, and object strongly, with the MEA stating there was no room for a ‘third party’ in dialogue on Kashmir. Basit, who met Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Farooq on Sunday has said that Pakistan sought progression and development in Kashmir, with the involvement of all players. Indeed it is hard to know how any kind of resolution would be possible without this.
The All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, set up in 1993 as a group of 26 organisations advocating self-determination for Kashmir, has influence and support within the valley. This is something that is known by most people active in Kashmir. After taking office early this year the Chief Minister of Kashmir, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, whose Peoples Democratic Party leads a coalition with the BJP welcomed a Hurriyat role in talks and said the group had been essential to the conduct of peaceful polls in the state. Yet New Delhi appears to have blinded itself to the reality that Kashmiri groups must be involved in talks on their destiny. On Monday Modi launched another tirade against ‘third party’ involvement in talks.
The Kashmiris cannot be a ‘third party’ in this. Indeed it is hard to see how India and Pakistan can decide on their future without them. Kashmir must not be treated as a colony. This is what Modi is attempting to do. He and his government also seem to have taken the very narrow view that the Hurriyat is a ‘pro-Pakistan’ entity. This is far too simplistic. There are many shades involved in it, and most crucial of all is the need to ensure that all players in Kashmir are fully engaged in dialogue on its future. It is ludicrous that India should be attempting to prevent this in order to serve its own interests and agendas.