Kashmir, a valley of tragedy

It is distressing to see the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Uri region that killed 18 Indian soldiers and wounded many more. The valley is burning for the last six months after the killing of young separatist leader, Burhan Wani. The government has imposed curfew in the state.
Since India and Pakistan achieved independence, the Kashmir issue has become a festering sore in the relations of the two countries.
Although Kashmir reflected India’s secular, democratic and federal character, it soon gave way to the denial of justice and democracy to Kashmir and its people. It became a history of broken promises and commitments and forgetting the fact that Jammu and Kashmir has a special status in the Indian Union given in history at the time of independence and partition.
The growing signs of alienation and the anger against Delhi were fully utilized by the militant forces such as JKLF, allegedly backed by Pakistan. Other militant groups too came up and later Hizbul Mujahideen became dominant and a dreaded group. Jammu and Kashmir was convulsed by terror attacks by both militants and counterinsurgency operations by the Indian armed forces. 
Thousands fell victim to this mindless violence, particularly since 1990s. The rise of the hardcore pro-Pakistan extremist groups like the Harkat-ul-Ansar, the Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT) etc., and the declining role of the indigenous militants saw the people of the state getting fed up with the gun culture and violence. 
This has turned the whole Kashmir region into a valley of tragedy, as Kashmiris continued losing their people in hundreds and thousands. Many have been arrested are languishing in jail. Both governments continue their utterly insensitive approach to the issue. 
The world remains a mute spectator without holding any of the two countries accountable for unabated killings of the civilians. 
Both governments must take the initiative to stop this mindless violence. Both of them should know that the fight over a piece of land will not alter the relations between the peoples of the two countries.
An amicable solution to the Kashmir problem will certainly bring together the two countries to settle other long-standing disputes like water issue. Immediate steps are therefore needed to restore peace and a semblance of normalcy to resume a dialogue. 
The excesses and violations of human rights due to the direct and indirect involvement of India and Pakistan however need a thorough investigation to repose confidence among the people of the state. Besides a dialogue, more confidence-building measures can be taken to strengthen Track-2 diplomacy.

Source: Arab News