Talks, even with the enemy cannot be anti-national. J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was only being sensible when she appealed to the Centre for talks with Pakistan to resolve the diverse problems of her state. There has been a sharp increase in cease fire violations. Infiltration from across the border continues. Attacks by the militants have not decreased nor the number of militants. True, some of them have been killed by the security forces but that does not signify. When the PDP and the BJP formed a coalition in 2015, both parties agreed on a bilateral dialogue with Pakistan and on Parleys with internal stakeholders. Internal dialogue has not taken place. Pakistan’s attack in Pathankot and Uri has scuttled dialogue with Islamabad as also the latter’s internal problems. Regular meetings between National Security Advisors of the two countries put a wrap on information.
Public engagements since the Mumbai massacre have been cut off. As a result, India cannot address its concerns to Pakistan and overtures at the International forums can at best be perfunctory. Is there any risk in talking to Pakistan? There is no point in departing from the avowed policy of bilateralism and indulging in heroics about what Sardar Vallavbhai Patel would have done ages ago. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that Pakistan will have to pay for the Sanjowa attack. But both she and Eternal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj bank on diplomacy. The Indian Army’s swagger reminds one of a military action hero in a Bollywood film. War means death and destruction. Jammu has become communally polarised. Divisiveness will aggravate the agony of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
