India, Pak mend ties, J&K leaders as divided as ever

New Delhi and Islamabad may be close to a convergence of views on Kashmir but political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir have hardened their positions to protect their turf.

Although there is no official word on the backchannel negotiations between Satinder Lambah, Indian prime minister's special envoy and Gen Musharraf's envoy Tariq Aziz, reports in the western press, quoting Pakistani sources, say there has been a significant forward movement.

The two appear to have agreed on a five-point formula: No exchange of territory; soft borders across the line of control; self-governance with more autonomy on both sides; a cross-LoC consultative mechanism; and demilitarisation in proportion to the reduction in violence.

There is enough circumstantial evidence to suggest a thaw is on. Although Kashmir continues to be the core issue for Pakistan, talks on other fronts are on, suggesting acceptance of India's stand that talks on other issues should not hinge on the progress on Kashmir. Although India and Pakistan were close to an agreement on Siachen, that it did not materialise did not stall the dialogue. However, all this didn't show in the last week's meeting of the working group set up by the prime minister to study the Centre-state relations in the context of Jammu and Kashmir. Of the five working groups set up by Singh to address the internal aspect of the Kashmir problem, this is the only one that is yet to submit its report.

The reason, sources said, was evident in the meeting. On the second day, Harsh Dev Singh, a legislator from the Panthers Party, walked out to sit on a dharna outside the venue. Inside, he spoke of how "democracy has been subverted by Kashmiri politicians over the years."

Judging by the discussion, no political party is ready to move an inch from its stated position. BJP's Arun Jaitley repeated the "abrogate Article 370" stand (which is not endorsed by the NDA), leading to protests by the National Conference and the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP).

AR Rather, a former state finance minister representing the National Conference, said, "Article 370 is a provision of the Indian Constitution and abrogating it will leave India with no control over the state". He declared that under Article 370, "the special status of Jammu and Kashmir is irrevocable.''

Harsh Dev Singh lamented how "politicians in J&K were abusing the special powers given by Article 370." As an example, he cited how J&K was the only state where MLAs enjoyed a six-year term. Thupstan Chewwang, an MP from Ladakh, said, "Ladakhis want nothing short of a union territory status and will have no truck with Kashmir". The displaced community of Kashmiri Hindus asked for a separate "homeland."