Kashmir News Network (KNN) blames Pakistan and its fundamentalist policies for the breakdown of the Indo-Pak Agra summit. The hard stands taken by General Musharraf show that he is not in any position to make peace without offending the Pakistani jehadi groups that he sponsors. It is clear that he was in Agra to extract rewards for a decade of terrorism, not to make peace. KNN also blames the Indian government for not anticipating the summit outcome and misreading the Pakistani mindset.

KNN believes that the lack of any coherent strategy towards the summit in the short run and towards Islamic fundamentalism in the long run has jeopardized the security & integrity of the Indian nation. India can only stay in a reactive mode for so long before being overrun by fundamentalist forces. KNN appeals to the Government of India to correct its course and follow a framework that will checkmate jehadi designs on the country.

The Kashmiri Pandit-initiated framework of quadrification of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is a robust alternative for resolving the issues of fundamentalism and violence in the state on a long-term basis. A mere freezing of the LOC, as suggested by many Indians, will merely perpetuate the mayhem. And the various forms of "independence" suggested for Kashmir will undoubtedly create a second Afghanistan, with severe ramifications for the rest of India, in addition to depriving Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities of their rights.

The territory of Panun ("Our") Kashmir has been proposed by Kashmiri Pandits as a means to bring secularism, religious freedom and security back to the valley. As part of this framework, Jammu and Ladakh would become separate states, and a Panun Kashmir region carved out of the valley, with abrogation of Article 370.

Panun Kashmir would allow over 700,000 Kashmiri Pandits to return safely to their homeland. It would also become a magnet for Indians willing to work in technology and other expanding industries. The Panun Kashmir territory with returning Pandits, and other Indians, including pro-India Kashmiri Muslims, would create a buffer against further export of Jehad into India, leading to rapid economic recovery and equal rights to all groups. This framework, in conjunction with a verifiable disbanding of all terrorist and fundamentalist activities originating from Pakistan, is the only path to a secure and lasting peace

Subodh Atal, Lalit Koul, Sunil Fotedar
Executive Editors

For further information, please contact:
Lalit Koul
Executive Editor
Kashmir News Network
Email: editor@kashmirherald.com