Pakistani President Musharraf’s new ideas on a peace settlement in Kashmir can hardly be said to amount to a concrete proposal. They are no more than a number of options. Nonetheless, these options — notably a suggested redivision of the disputed territory, greater involvement there by the UN and a temporary abandonment of Pakistan’s traditional demand for a referendum — represent a complete overhaul by Islamabad of its Kashmir policy. One of the key players has got off his high horse and is prepared to deal with the realities of the situation. That is tremendously encouraging.
Inevitably, a stunned opposition at home has condemned the ideas as a “betrayal” of Kashmir, while from across the border comes evident government unease. The response from Delhi that the suggestions should have been put through official channels rather than being presented to the media suggests that India also has been similarly caught off balance by what is without doubt a sea change in Pakistani thinking on Kashmir.
Delhi can be forgiven for its initial reticence as it tries to regain its composure, if not the initiative. But the world expects it to come up with a response that is just as positive. Musharraf has demonstrated flexibility and statesmanship with his suggestions. There is no reason to believe that India cannot match them. Former Prime Minister Vajpayee proved his country could when he changed Indo-Pak relations from eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation to optimism with his bus and cricket diplomacy. The same requirement to seize the opportunity goes to the Pakistani opposition. This is no betrayal of Kashmir. Musharraf has not said “no” to a referendum, simply that it is unrealistic at the moment. That is patently true. Equally he has confirmed his determined opposition to Delhi’s desired outcome — the present Line of Control becoming the official border between the two countries. And his suggestion of redrawing the LOC should please the opposition parties; it addresses the fact that a place such as the Kashmir Valley is 95 percent Muslim and wants out while Hindu-majority Jammu and Buddhist-majority Ladakh would resist separation from India.
Ever since independence, Kashmir has poisoned relations between two countries that have so much to gain from working closely together — two countries that are now nuclear powers. It does not take much intelligence to predict the awful probability of nuclear conflagration in the subcontinent if Kashmir is not solved, because inevitably, it will trigger more wars.
Musharraf’s willingness to get out of the destructive straitjacket of conventional Pakistani and Indian thinking on Kashmir is to be applauded and given every assistance. His pragmatic approach offers a chance to break the deadly stalemate. If India can respond in like manner, with an enthusiastic welcome and an offer to talk further, maybe some momentum will be established. Of course, it may all fall apart. Certainly there will be those out to sabotage any settlement. But rarely has there been such a chance for peace, such encouraging grounds for optimism.
