Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 28: External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid today said Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is needed in Jammu and Kashmir to protect the lives of armed forces as they defend the country.
“You can argue that this is not necessary and you can argue that we can now phase it out. You can argue that we can put more restrictions on it, but to say in black and white to take it off is not a reasonable or sensible thing to say,” Khurshid told reporters here in a local hotel while interacting with media during a Congress sponsored function.
“This case is not to be decided by me. We can’t take a unilateral decision. Armed forces have given their view point on the AFSPA. It is to be taken by the Home Minister, Defence Minister and, of course, the Prime Minister, who will finally take a call,” said the Foreign Minister.
Khurshid said there was a sense of loss and tragedy which was not only limited to the civilian population of places where the AFSPA is in force. “You think it is limited to only one section. We have lost some very brave people also. They (armed forces) did not come here on their own will. They were given orders. The latest count is of eight Army people who lost their lives”, he said.
The Foreign Minister said, irrespective of grievances against any State agency, people working there are also human beings who need to be protected. “They also are good people there. There are rogue elements in forces and people as well. If we count human lives, they are same whether in uniform or outside it. We have to protect them as well because they protect us,” he said.
Khurshid said that it is not the question of AFSPA. “The question is how dignity and life can be protected. One day Kashmir will change, we will change and Army will also change”, he added.
The Union Minister said that the AFSPA is not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in the North-East as well.
“This kind of discourses and discussions go on there also. No one imposes AFSPA for fun. The circumstance become such that it has to be imposed. What kind of supervision should be there and what kind of accountability should be there is discussed not only here but also in Delhi by people who are not under this Act,” he added.
The External Affairs Minister said that Kashmir problem is an internal issue of India and there is a mechanism within the country to address all issues and outside forces need not interfere.
“There is no need for any outsider to point fingers at us on what we have to do or if we have done something wrong. It is an issue within the family. We may have discussions and altercations within the family in our home and say that justice has not been done with us. But this is an internal issue and we have mechanism of discussions and talks through which we can comfortably solve every issue, and we will do that”, Khurshid said.
The External Affairs Minister said the Centre is aware of its responsibilities when it comes to people’s aspirations.”We fully know and understand our responsibilities. The aspirations and expectations of our own people, our brothers and sisters, their dreams, we know how to respect them”, he said.
Khurshid said that there are not problems in Jammu and Kashmir only. He said that there are problems in other parts of the country like Tilangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kolkata as well.
“Jammu and Kashmir is not the only place where there are problems. There are issues in every nook and corner of the country; there are issues of reservation, of opportunities to be given to those who are downtrodden, of unemployment, of women issues and their security, of expectations that our IT sector will rule the world and issues of health. There are issues, but there are solutions as well,” the Foreign Minister said.
Khurshid said that the Government is identifying the problems and are negotiating with the elected representatives and trying to address them. “But here the problem is who are you going to negotiate with. They have to come to conclusion to whom we are going to talk to.”
The Foreign Minister said that Kashmir will have to show way to the country and Kashmiris should reach out to the people. “Kashmir should reach out to other parts of the country. That way we can build bridges, so that we can say that we have one future, one dream and one goal and can move forward on that”, he added.
“I am of the view that if we take care of our situation, then Kashmir, which is the crown of India physically, will remain so intellectually, financially and socially and it’s our responsibility to protect that crown and we will do that,” Khurshid said.
The Union Minister said that the dialogue with Pakistan will be resumed after the new Government settles down there, and pending confidence building measures between the two countries are implemented.
“It is not good that we say everything right at the outset. The atmosphere is good at the moment. Let it improve further to be conducive for talks,” Khurshid said here.
“Let them settle down and understand their job, then we can resume it. However, there are some issues on which both the Government and people expect some progress, and we will get some satisfaction from it. Then things can move on smoothly from there,” the Minister said.
Khurshid said: “Our formulation at the moment is to start a sectoral dialogue. The issues on which we can make forward movement, we will do that. There are some issues on which expecting some quick progress is not possible.”
The Minister said there are some confidence building measures which are to be implemented by both the countries to further improve the atmosphere of trust.
“There are confidence building measures like the most favoured nation status (to India) which they had decided earlier, but has not been implemented yet and the new visa regime which we have announced and will enable travel of more people across the border is to be implemented. We can move forward one step at a time,” Khurshid said.
The Union Minister said the composite dialogue with Pakistan made good progress and was successful, but some “unfortunate incidents” dealt a setback to the process. “Talks with Pakistan had progressed a long way and were successful. The composite dialogue that we had started had made good progress. Unfortunately, some incidents took place which became a setback to our efforts and under compulsion, the process stopped,” he added.
Khurshid said the Government has positively viewed the statements made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about relations with India during his election campaign, which he reiterated after assuming office.
“Elections have taken place there under a democratic system and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his election campaign gave statements and hints, and reiterated them after assuming office. We seen them in positive light and we have responded accordingly,” the Minister said.
On the fallout of the US withdrawal next year from Afghanistan on India, Khurshid said Washington has assured assured that the talks with Taliban will stay within the red lines drawn for the purpose.
“When (US Secretary of State John) Kerry was here, he told us that as far as our reservations are concerned, no step will be taken that will harm our interests. Red lines have been drawn and we agree with them. Those (Taliban) who come to talk will believe in the constitution, they will down their arms and snap ties with Al-Qaeda, if they have any”, the Minister said.
“If they remain within these lines, the US has time and again said they will, we think the talks can progress. The basic thing which we have all agreed upon is that the talks should remain in control of Afghanistan as it is their internal matter,” Khurshid said.
The Minister said the Government has had detailed discussion with the US and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the issue of talks with Taliban. “We have had a detailed discussion with the US on the issue. We also talked about it with Karzai when he was here. We have spoken to other countries as well, like Saudi Arabia and the UK”, he added.
“Right now, nobody knows whether the talks will succeed. Even the US has not expressed confidence that these talks will move forward. It is an attempt,” Khurshid said.
The Minister said some things happened during the inaugurating of the Taliban office in Qatar, which were not liked by some people. “We are (now) told these have been rectified,” he said.
On Kashmir, Khurshid said that the military is not solution and “we have to move forward”. The US is holding talks with Taliban as after 10 years of fighting they realised this is not going to take them anywhere and this is not the solution.
The Minister said he is ashamed of what happen in Kunan Poshpora, a Kupwara village where the womenfolk were allegedly raped during a cordon and search operation in early 1990s.
“Well what can I say?” Khurshid told a questioner. “I can only say I am ashamed that it happened in my country.”
Khurshid was responding to a reporter who asked him if he felt ashamed over the gang-rape of a Delhi girl in Germany, what does he feel about the village that was allegedly gang-raped by soldiers in 1991?
“I am honestly appalled that this has happened to my family. I may even say that I am shocked that I am not able to do anything about it,” the minister said.
Khurshid said that the situation in 1990s was like a war. “So many people who don’t deserve to suffer, suffered in a war. And at the end of the war you still shake hands, you sign a peace document and you begin to talk to very people who have been killing or marauding you”, he said.
“At the end of the day, is there a choice between choosing that we forget, if we can, correct as we must and make people accountable as is necessary and then learn to move on?” the Minister said. He asked audience to study former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, who is currently unwell. “You will know what forgiveness is, you will know what struggle is and you will know what building hope out of despair is,” he asserted.
Khurshid said that it is plain human nature to learn to move forward for which conditions need to be laid. “It is not simply that you hit me in the face and say forget it, it does not matter and tell me to move forward,” he argued.
On not informing the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the stand off between India and China in Ladakh two months ago, the Minister said that the State Government was not involved anywhere so he was not kept in loop. He, however, said that CM should have been kept in loop about the developments. He assured that he will be kept in loop in future.
On the non-issuance of passports to those whose kith and kin were involved in militancy in the past, Khurshid said that Government’s hands are tied as police have to give clearance. He, however, said that he will speak to Chief Minister on the issue.
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