Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 9: In a major breakthrough in the ongoing dialogue process initiated by the Centre Government in Jammu and Kashmir through its Special Representative Dineshwar Sharma, some separatist leaders, who had till recently been opposing any kind of dialogue with the Government of India, and group of students from some Universities and Colleges, who were brazenly engaged in stone pelting, have sent feelers to the Interlocutor through backchannel negotiators, that they were ready to meet him.
Significantly, the feelers from the separatists and hardcore student leaders came within days after former Hurriyat Conference chairman and prominent separatist leader Abdul Ghani Bhat confirmed his meeting with Sharma during latter’s second visit to Kashmir in November end.
Describing feelers from separatist camp and hardcore youths, whom the Centre as well as State Governments want to engage, as “very positive” and “encouraging”, reliable sources told the Excelsior that backchannel diplomacy has been at work to facilitate dialogue between the Special Representative and the stakeholders, who had earlier been refusing to meet Sharma.
“Four major Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) announced by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on recommendations of Sharma have helped to a great extent in bringing forward some individuals and groups to the negotiating table and their separate meetings with the Interlocutor could soon become a reality.
However, according to sources, the separatists, some students and youth groups want to keep their engagements with Sharma confined to secret i.e. away from the place where the Special Representative meets normal delegations.
“This demand of the separatists and youth has been accepted and their meetings with Sharma would be away from public and media glare,” sources said, adding that some of the meetings were likely to mature during next visit of Dineshwar to Jammu and Kashmir, which could take place in the next few days especially when the backchannel diplomacy completely succeeds.
Noting that number of persons in Centre and State were on the job to facilitate crucial meetings between Sharma and stakeholders, which remained elusive with previous Interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, sources said two Cabinet Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Government, both hailing from Kashmir division were also engaged in hectic activities to win over the separatists and youths for their talks with Dineshwar Sharma to make the dialogue process “strong and meaningful”.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Dineshwar is expected to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh shortly in New Delhi to discuss with him the roadmap ahead for talks in Jammu and Kashmir and some more possible CBMs the Centre could take before his next visit to the Valley to send strong message to the stakeholders that the Centre Government was sincere on the talks and that Dineshwar was a different Interlocutor than the previous ones.
After his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar had met Rajnath Singh and briefed him of his observations, based on the meetings with various delegations in two regions of the State-Jammu and Kashmir. During his second visit also, the Special Representative had visited the two regions. So far, he hasn’t visited Ladakh region but was expected to reach there during his upcoming visit.
Following the meeting, the MHA had announced four major Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) for Jammu and Kashmir including amnesty to first-time stone pelters, manifold increase in compensation to Pakistan shelling and firing victims, free 800 mw power supply to the State this winter and increase in compensation for family members of Jammu and Kashmir Police martyrs at par with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Of them, two CBMs including amnesty to one-time stone pelters and increase in ex-gratia relief of JKP martyrs have been implemented.
The meeting between Abdul Ghani Bhat and Dineshwar Sharma had assumed significance as the joint Hurriyat leadership led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik stayed away from the dialogue initiative, as they said that exercise was a ‘waste of time’ and questioned sincerity of New Delhi.
Bhat is part of Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. However, since the trio joined hands in 2016, most of the constituents of Mirwaiz led Hurriyat including Bhat’s Muslim Conference, have stayed away from its public functions or Core Group meetings.
Bhat had recently said that his party – the Muslim Conference – is principally in favour of dialogue and “open to meet anybody who seeks a dialogue on Kashmir, including Sharma.
However, Bhat is not the only separatist leader who met Sharma. Sources said that six middle rung Hurriyat leaders met Sharma at a private hospital during his two visits to Kashmir after he was appointed as Interlocutor.
Sources said that the meeting was organized by a PDP leader and son of one of the executive members of Hurriyat Conference was among the leaders who met Sharma. However, there was no headway in the meeting that was held in the hospital and they shared their view point with the Interlocutor.
The Government, however, was desperately trying to expand the scope of the exercise and make it more credible by including the Hurriyat leaders, influential businessmen and civil society members including students and youth, who till now have refrained from participating openly.
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