India’s External Affairs Minister Sushna Swaraj has long been stressing the need for diplomatic initiatives to thaw the standoff between India and Pakistan. Now Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also taken a similar stand. He has said that India is not averse to holding talks with Pakistan but Islamabad should also come up with a reciprocal initiative. Infiltration attempts should stop and a joint action should be taken to counter terrorism. He admitted that measures to restore normalcy in Kashmir through initiatives like the appointment of an interlocutor have not had the desired effect. The Indian Government may extend the ceasefire in Kashmir after Ramzan. Rajnath regretted that Pakistan was firing at the Indian Border, indulging in ceasefire violations and trying to infiltrate terrorists. It should mend its ways. Pakistan is trying to disturb the peaceful lives of Kashmiri Muslims in Kashmir even during Ramzan. It has no sympathy for Kashmir. Rajnath feels that the people of Kashmir should understand this diabolical stance. Pakistan treats Kashmiris as its tools. Looking at the past, he spoke of Atal Bihari Vajpayee taking the bus to Pakistan and Narendra Modi breaking protocol to meet Nawaz Sharif. What more evidence could there be of India’s peaceable intentions?
The problem of course is Kashmir. Singh ruled out any mediation on Kashmir with Islamabad. Kashmir and Kashmiris belong very much to India. The rub is that there is a groundswell of anti-India feeling in Kashmir, especially among unemployed youth. The security forces and the National Intelligence Agency are taking firm steps against stone pelters. But the Indian media should not demonise Kashmiris. As disaffection grows in Kashmir, Pakistan will encourage terrorists and there will be no talks.