No extension of ceasefire

THE people of Kashmir have once again missed a turning that could have led to political synchronisation with the winds of change buffeting the region. The cessation of operations during Ramzan, as it is, was a difficult choice for Delhi; it was unilateral and conditional but there was dissonance over giving a breather to the militants along with affording a peaceful month to the general public. The scales might have tilted because of a renewed commitment by Indian and Pakistani armies to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire on the LoC and an all-party meeting in Srinagar plumping enthusiastically for the proposal.  

The armed opposition and its overground supporters, besides their backers across the border, had other ideas. Deliberately crafted incidents of violence pockmarked the entire duration of the ceasefire, culminating in the murders of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and a soldier returning on leave. In tandem, the Pakistan army’s calculated targeting of Indian security personnel on the international border (IB) left none in doubt that spoilers were at work on both sides of the border. The loser is the common Kashmiri with a study revealing a direct correlation between accretion in militant ranks and acceleration in encounters. The cessation of operations was preceded by Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visiting the Valley to spell out New Delhi’s vision for peace. No government can make further investments in conciliation without reciprocation; and there was none from the militants or their sympathisers.  

The doubling of violent incidents during Ramzan and the flaring up of the LoC are clear pointers that the militants may be on the wrong side of history. Inveterate opponents like the Taliban and Kabul have held on to a ceasefire while Pakistan and India are set to partner other members of the SCO in joint anti-terrorism military exercises. Never shy of linking the Kashmir “struggle” to Palestine and Afghanistan, the separatists ought to have read the writing on the regional wall. The political mainstream in Kashmir needs to redeem itself after it was unable to contribute substantially to the cause in the brief window that had opened.