Kashmir News Network Offers Broad Proposals For Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia

 

Kashmir News Network (KNN) editors Subodh Atal and Lalit Koul presented their views on the conflict in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir at the monthly meeting of the India Policy Forum in New York on March 1, 2002. The presentation, titled "Jammu and Kashmir: Defusing the Flashpoint", included viewing of a film "Refugees in their Own Country" made by a Kashmiri Hindu refugee Mr. Ashok Pandit. The KNN presentation briefed the attendees on the rich Hindu history and affiliations of the state, and discussed the oppression of Kashmiri Hindus by invading Muslims. The presentation brought into focus the negative effects of Indian Constitution's Article 370 on the well-being of the Kashmiri Hindu community, as well as on the socio-economic development of the state and its general population. The presentation charted the continued meddling of Pakistan in the state, and the resulting terrorism and violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The presentation discussed several options for conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir. The options of accession to Pakistan or independence were considered by the KNN presenters as likely to endanger Jammu and Kashmir minorities and provide a secure base for Pakistani jehadis for further incursions into India, apart from doing little to help the state's economy. The proposal for joint administration of the state by India and Pakistan was considered impractical in light of fundamental differences between the two countries. Proposals within India to provide greater autonomy were regarded as perpetuating the secessionist tendencies and Talibanization of the state. KNN presented a proposal based on quadrification of Jammu and Kashmir state into Kashmir, Panun Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh as the most likely to rapidly integrate the different regions of the state into India for maximum socio-economic benefit.

 

KNN also proposed a reorganization of Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to restore stability in South Asia. The proposal divides the region into Sindh, Pashtunistan, Baluchistan, Pakistani Punjab and Northern Afghanistnan, with Pashtunistan and Baluchistan straddling the two current nations. This reorganization would serve to isolate the extremism concentrated in Pashtunistan, and surround it with buffer states that would be free to pursue an independent economic and political course. The plan predicts that such a restructuring would bring to an end the export of fundamentalism and terror from the region. The break up of the Pakistani military, and dismantling of its nuclear arsenal and the ISI would remove the foundation upon which much of terrorism threat to the region operates.

 

The presentation was followed by a question and answer session. A free-wheeling discussion on the issues covered in the presentation ensued, and several participants agreed with the assessment that Article 370 may have resulted in concentration of wealth and resources among a tiny elite in the state. During the discussion, the presenters clarified that they support autonomy for states as part of a federal structure, however, they questioned the kind of autonomy that has resulted in the walling off Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of India, undermining its economy and contributing to its Talibanization.

 

The KNN presenters also clarified that they envisioned Panun Kashmir as a place where Indians of all religions and communities could live, buy property and do business, thus setting the stage for its rapid economic growth and integration with India. The debate also touched on the proposed reorganization of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The presenters acknowledged that this was a radical proposal, but made the point that such a structure was necessary to counter and isolate the extremism that has arisen from some regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan and spread around the world. The presenters expressed their belief that several of the smaller states that would be created in this reorganization would be better positioned to work with other South Asian countries in bringing economic progress and renewal to the entire subcontinent.

 

The presentation is available for viewing at:
http://www.ikashmir.org/Slides/Flashpoint.ppt 

and

http://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/presentations/index.html