Daily Times

After months of negotiations since the last elections in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir (JK) that were threatening to reach a deadlock, the JK People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the national incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have come to an agreement to govern the region jointly under the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). This decision was necessitated by the lack of clear mandate to any party following the elections late last year. Since the Hindu nationalist BJP came to power last December and Narendra Modi was elected Prime Minister, the party has been expressing their wish to encapsulate JK into the federation of India and to repeal Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants JK special status and the right to make its own laws. PDP has always advocated self-rule in Kashmir and was able to secure 28 seats, the highest number in the 87-seat JK assembly, while BJP won 25. Since the PDP did not have enough seats to form the government on its own, it first considered joining the National Congress but later decided to hold talks with the BJP. Keeping in mind the JK public’s resentment towards the strongly nationalist party, the PDP put forth a list of demands to the BJP including dialogue with Pakistan, the retention of Article 370 and the withdrawal of the Armed Forced Special Powers Act (AFSPA). This act allows Indian security forces to enter buildings, make arrests and shoot to kill any possible suspects without warrants or due process and is responsible for much of the resentment against India in held JK.

BJP has agreed to repeal the AFSPA, to hold off on the withdrawal of Article 370 and the Indian foreign secretary is set to visit Pakistan next week to resume talks after almost a year of tense relations and extreme cross-border violence between the neighbours. Thus the BJP seems to be respecting the PDP’s requests so far. It remains to be seen how fortuitous this union will be for the people of Kashmir. According to Kashmiri journalist ShujaatBukhari, the people of the two Kashmirs tend to “feel sandwiched between the two powers” when India-Pakistan relations are tense. Normalisation of relations with Pakistan is necessary to prevent further tension along theLine of Control. BJP will need to step away from its Hindutva roots to govern this predominantly Muslim region and both parties will have to compromise with each other and separatist elements. The new government must work towards the peace and stability of the region by respecting the wishes of the long-suffering Kashmiri people, both for the betterment of JK and for peace with Pakistan. *