Restoration of statehood can calm tensions in J-K: ICG

Arun Joshi
Jammu, August 10

An international think tank, International Crisis Group, has asked New Delhi to “rethink” its approach to Kashmir and suggested restoration of statehood to J&K as a way to calm tensions.

Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories on August 5 last year when its special status was scrapped.

Political parties across the spectrum, barring ideologically divergent groups like BJP and PDP, have raised this demand.

Covid-19 has crippled on the ground political activity in Kashmir, though the BJP is allowed to carry out its activities indoors.

The report titled ‘Raising the stakes in Jammu and Kashmir’ stated: “Restoring the region’s statehood, a prospect to which the Modi government has said it is open, would help.”

The Modi Government had announced in Parliament on August 5 and 6 that the UT status of J&K was not going to be permanent, its statehood would be restored as and when the situation becomes normal.

Although the parameters of the normalcy were not spelt out in detail, it was widely understood that as when militancy in the valley is tamed.

The term statehood applies to the UT of J&K only, and, not to Ladakh, another UT that was created out of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir

The ICG has also urged New Delhi to “release politicians still in detention and allow political activity to resume; the jailing of even pro-India leaders threatens to leave New Delhi bereft of local allies. New Delhi should also take steps to curb abuses by security forces; heavy-handed measures fuel resentment of Indian rule and push more youth toward militancy.”

Throughout the report, it has warned that Indo-Pak conflict may escalate if it is not dialled down on the LoC and also until both the countries tone down their rhetoric.