A good beginning for ending chaos

The army chiefs of India and Pakistan have for the first time in last three years of continuing hostility on borders in Jammu and Kashmir thrown up the challenges to the political class in New Delhi and Islamabad by calling for a dialogue to resolve disputes and establish peace in the region. As for as the statement of Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat is concerned his proactive remarks in the past had generated a lot of anger among youth in Kashmir but his latest statement in which he said “Neither Army nor militants can win war in Kashmir but dialogue is the only way to resolve disputes and establish peace” shows an attitudinal shift in the policy of military leadership on the current situation in Kashmir. What matters the most is the response of both the separatist and mainstream leadership in Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time in last three years both Syed Ali Shah Geelani the Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman and Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq welcomed the statements of both army chiefs and expressed their hope that the two countries could shun the politics of ego and resume the process of political dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue. Equally encouraging has been the response of the mainstream political parties and even Naeem Akhtar the incumbent minister of the PDP-BJP coalition government headed by Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the statements of both the army chiefs and hoped that a political dialogue would be initiated with Pakistan and other stake holders for resolution of Kashmir issue. The statements of army chiefs have also generated hopes of peace in Jammu and Kashmir where the people on borders have been bearing the brunt of cross border firing incidents and the local populations in plain areas have been badly hit by the rising tendency of youth towards militancy. If the political class in Delhi and Islamabad take a cue from the statements of both the army chiefs and initiate a dialogue in Kashmir the restoration of peace efforts may bring peace to people in Kashmir and respite to border populations hit by the cross LoC shelling from time to time. Now it is for the Prime Ministers of the two countries to cease the opportunity and initiate a dialogue over all outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.