Undoing J&K’s Artificial Existence

Undoing J&K’s Artificial Existence - STATECRAFT BY HAPPYMON JACOB

Working towards creative interdependence is one of the fundamental steps to conflict resolution. Economic, cultural and emotional interdependence among conflicting regions will undoubtedly go a long way in resolving their problems and history is witness to this fact. One might argue that creating interdependence in J&K (the erstwhile J&K) isn’t any political solution rather a way of avoiding the real problem. There is some merit in such an argument but one could also argue that Jammu and Kashmir suffers less from a lack of territorial readjustment than from a host of other problems which are related to economy, resources, violence and alienation etc which can best be addressed by the creative tools of interdependence. As this author has pointed out in one of the earlier articles, even the political climate in J&K and in New Delhi and Islamabad both among the mainstream politicians and dissident camp is also very much in favour of pushing for more and more linkages between the two sides of the erstwhile princely state. Linkages among the two sides of J&K, all of them realize, can not be avoided and it is a matter of time that their respective constituencies would hold them responsible if they don’t push for it. More importantly, the logic behind the demand for increased collaboration and cooperation between the two sides is that the state is currently in a state of artificial existence: the natural links have been frozen in time. So what is this interdependence and collaboration that we are talking about? Item number one in a possible laundry list of mutual collaboration would be trade. From establishing LoC markets to trading in handicrafts and local goods to establishing contacts among the four chambers of commerce and industries in the state, the possible initiatives could be long. The next item would be promotion of tourism on both sides of the state and implementing collaborative approaches to that. While on the one hand, MoUs could be signed among tourism associations and hotel industries, religious and cultural tourism for the people of the state is one something that could be undertaken right away. The first step in this direction would be easing of visa restrictions. The third important item would be the great potential of collaboration among educational institutions. Both universities and vocational training institutes on both sides of the state could initiate exchange programmes for students and faculty besides signing MoUs among institutions for such purposes, holding joint conferences and workshops on issues of mutual concern (why do Kashmiris, and Indians and Pakistanis have to meet in a neutral territory all the time?) and most importantly establishing scholarships and reserving seats from students from the other side. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if the Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipur holds a conference on Islam with scholars from the South Asian region especially from the other side of J&K? Partial efforts are already being taken in this regard: University of Jammu’s Business School is in the process of signing an MOU with the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The fourth issue of crucial importance here is the necessary collaboration by he two sides on disaster management, considering the fact that the region is understood to be disaster prone. It would prove to be a prudent step if there could be initiatives towards establishing coordinated efforts at disaster management and relief. The past example of Pakistan refusing to accept India’s offer to help at the time of the earthquake in Kashmir should prompt the two countries to look for establishing a modus operandi for collective action at the time of such disasters. Another issue of crucial importance is collective efforts at natural resources management in J&K. Setting up consultative mechanisms for this purpose would be the first step in this direction. External funding agencies could be included in environmental rehabilitation and promotion of sustainable development. The Indus Waters Treaty that has stood the test of time is an example that should be emulated when dealing with water, forest, ecological and other such resources. Reopening the roads and thereby facilitating transport between the two sides is the sixth issue that needs urgent consideration. Some roads are opened but hardly anyone can travel through them thanks to the many restrictions. Permission to travel should be extended more people than those from the divided families. Many roads still remain closed and they need to be reopened. Train and air connections between the two sides are some options which could be explored. A related issue is that of establishing communication between the two sides. Telephone connection between the two sides needs to be reinstated and one could even think on the lines of setting up common TV and radio programmes apart from a common website for common purposes. The last but not the least in this list would be the financial and economic linkages such as opening of branches of the J&K Bank on the other side and vice versa. Even though this many not achieve so much in the beginning, the symbolic significance this would have for people in the state is tremendous. But do we have the political will to initiate such measures in the state? This seems to be lacking in both the countries. What the mainstream and dissident leadership in the state as well as in India and Pakistan should realize is that if they do not learn to read the writing on the wall, people will hold them accountable for ignoring their aspirations.
(Source: Greater Kashmir, March 19, 2008. URL: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=19_3_2008&ItemID=7&cat=11 )