Bereaved families have to be permitted peaceful, dignified and safe funerals for their dead. Orders to shoot-at-sight and fire live ammunition at protesters should be withdrawn with immediate effect. Representatives of the state government must show greater empathy for the people who elected them, especially by visiting the wounded in hospitals.

A phased scale-back of paramilitary forces has to be announced, with numbers and dates, to be executed over the next three years, until eventually the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA) may be repealed altogether and troops confined to border areas only. Policies that provide monetary incentives and fast-track promotions in counter-insurgency operations must be scrapped.

Kashmiri leaders in prisons or under house arrest should be released and allowed to go about their business, including addressing public meetings, talking to the press, leading prayers at mosques and shrines, and entering into talks with the government.

A timebound government-appointed commission of independent investigators needs to prepare a comprehensive report on the deaths, disappearances, unlawful detention, rapes and torture cases in Jammu and Kashmir, between 1990 and 2010, to be presented to the Indian Parliament.

All of this is not just imperative for Kashmir to survive the immediate crisis — it is necessary for India too, to weather this storm. If Kashmir’s future is the primary responsibility of the people of Kashmir, then it is the responsibility of Indians to save the idea of India and bring it back from its near-total ruin in the Valley.

One thing all players can agree on: the house has to be set in order without any reference whatsoever, in the first place, to third parties.

After the Indian state and the people of Kashmir have taken these steps together, then comes the time to open up the issue for multilateral talks, with Pakistan, the UN, the US, and international humanitarian organisations. The process cannot reach the point of dialogue without an intensive period of soul-searching, homework and justice within the Indian Union. The Pakistanbacked militancy of the ’90s is in the past.

Once India has established the rule of law to its utmost capacity, I am convinced it will have nothing to fear from any external agency. Kashmiris may still demand partial autonomy or complete secession, but that is a bridge to be crossed only after a bridge has been built.

Talking about Gandhi in Kashmir (or in Maoist India) seems laughable. But Gandhi it was whom India listened to, when it fought hardest for its own decolonisation between 1920 and 1950. Throughout this time, the Mahatma tried to establish certain core ethical values for a new politics of swaraj.

Among these were ideas that had a long history on the Indian subcontinent, such as ahimsa. We usually translate this as “non-violence”, but what Gandhi really meant was the moral courage necessary to relate to another person without the desire to harm him.

This moral courage is difficult to achieve between any two persons, but it is hardest, and most essential, that ahimsa prevail in the relationship between adversaries, so Gandhi believed. He got the lesson of ahimsa, oddly enough, not from Asoka the Mauryan emperor of the 3rd century BC, who became a pacifist after causing great carnage, nor from Jain doctrine, which enshrines ahimsa as a key practice, but from the Bhagavad Gita, in which Krishna teaches Arjuna how to put up a good fight, without compromising his basic sense of morality and decency.

But Gandhi also insisted on satya, the truth, enshrined in India’s national motto, satyameva jayate, “truth alone prevails”. In addition, he wanted India to recover its oldest tenets of ethical sovereignty: anukrosha, from the Ramayana, the capacity to feel another’s pain; aanrishamsya, from the Mahabharata, the elimination of cruelty from one’s conduct, which Yudhisthira recognised as the highest dharma, the norm-ofnorms, especially for a king. Gandhi sought not just political independence from British rule, but a truly liberating political culture, grounded in age-old ethical norms like non-violence, moral courage, non-cruelty, truthfulness and compassion. Without these values in place, he said, India would never be free, never have true swaraj.

Most Indians have little sympathy for an independent Kashmiri nation. But an Indian mother would feel the pain of her Kashmiri counterpart whose teenage son was brutally killed while shouting slogans in a street demonstration. Many Indians favour a strong army, but few would condone torture as a routine part of governance.

Every Indian ought to recognise the moral courage it takes for Kashmiris, long beset by the overwhelming might of a militarised state, to come out on the streets asking for justice with nothing but stones in their hands. And as a democracy, India has to face the facts about how its elected representatives and security forces protect or abuse the rights of its citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender, whether in the Northeast, Maoist areas, or Kashmir.

If India really cherishes its own freedom, hard-won by Gandhi and the founding generations, then it must deal ethically with Kashmiris, recognise them as fellow citizens, fellow human beings and moreover, a people who have suffered inordinately for the past 20 years. If India does not find peace and justice for Kashmir, it will lose not only Kashmir, but also its own sovereignty, swaraj.

Comments (23)

Everybody talking about Kashmit but nobody conclusion about Kashmir. No doubt at all, Kashmir is ours. Nobody oppose. Kashmir is ours and it is an integral part of India. Why unnessary deviding government rule. One India, One Nation One people. We all are Indians from Kashmir to Indira Point.

Posted by Molabanti Naga Lakshmi , Senior Executive at Pharmaceuticals | 04 Sep, 2010

Now the time has come when the need is for bringing Kashmir & Kashmiris in the main stream of the nation.The separatist,within & outside the country must be treated hard.Also the people of Kashmir should be offered employment opportunities/business opportunities.This is possible only when a government with genuine interest in the development of Kashmir & Kashmiris[not the government with vasted interest,encouraging separatism,should take care at the state.

Posted by Arun Tripathi | 26 Aug, 2010

The youths of Kashmir are misled & brainwashed by the so called saviours of Kashmir and terrorist (jihadi)outfits.The Kashmir leaders who are muslims but belong to India are supporting Pakistani terrorism.Why our country and especially CM of J&K is confused about this attitude..why should they not mercilessly take action?If we give long rope for their neferious activities then forget about Kashmir.Why not simply succumb to them and handover Kashmir to Pakistan? The educated youth of Kashmir is interested in stone pelting ..this activity is fully backed by the leaders who instigate them..curb this.India is capable of tackling the situation but needs guts and determination.There is no need to go on chanting "peace mantra" when Pakistan and terrorist outfits are shattering the

Posted by K N Chandrashekar | 25 Aug, 2010

Kashmir is an integral part of India. The basic and the hard core reality with the Kashmir is that . After end number of policies and elections . Still the freedom and the citizen status ,which we as a common person from the rest of the India practices is not been given to Kashmiris. Every Indian should have the right to work, establish and invest in Kashmir like rest of the any part of our country. Which unfortunately till date not been allowed. More information and opportunities should be given to common Kahsmiri students to come and visit each and every part of the Indian Union to have the taste of freedom and same vice-versa . One of the most important issue ,the Kashmiri Pandits will should also be also considered before launching any big project for the state. Last but not the least

Posted by Amit Sehgal , Promo Producer at India News. | 25 Aug, 2010

I think kashmiri youth is disguised by the separetists. What they need is emotional support from all Indians and specially from the Govt of India. They do not know what they are actually fighting for. This problem can only be resolved by providing employment opportunities to the youth and not the releaf packages what Indian govt is providing and is being eaten up by politicians of the Valley. Why the forces are spread in civil areas why not all strength is deployed on boarder to check the infiltration of the militants.

Posted by Girish Lakhera | 25 Aug, 2010

ALL KASHMIRIS WHO SAY THEY WANT AZAD KASHMIR, PLEASE ASK THEM FIRST TO LEAVE THE PLACE FROM WHERE THEY TALK SINCE AT PRESENT IT IS IN INDIA. ASK THEM TO GO TO PAKISTAN AND SHOUT FROM THERE AND GO WHEREVER THEY WANT FOR HELP AND SHOUT. KASHMIR IS PART OF INDIA, AND WILL REMAIN PART OF INDIA. IF THEY DO NOT LIKE THIS, ASK THEM TO VACATE. ALL POLITICAL PARTIES MUST STOP ENCOURAGING AND TRYING TO PLEASE THEM. MUST DEAL WITH THEM STERNLY AND FIRMLY.MAKE THEM REALIZE IT IS PART OF INDIA, SO FOLLOW RULES OF COUNTRY WHERE YOU STAY , EAT, DRINK, EARN FROM INDIA.

Posted by abhijeet | 24 Aug, 2010

Kashmir is not only for the Kashmiry people. If they think India is our mother land and we have to live as an Indian, then they can realize the fact. If other brain works behind the reality then this issue never to be dissolves. In Indian history we can see the king who wanted to rule his country with the communal mentality he never stays. Then if people think, Punjab is for Punjabi, West Bengal is for Bengali, Bihar is for Behari, and Kashmir is for Kashmiry who will full fill this type of childish demand? All over the world shouting this is a political issue, but no one is telling, by whom they are being motivated? They have to think being an Indian. Peace will come automatically.

Posted by Sanjay Parey | 24 Aug, 2010

If Ananya Vajpeyi thinks that keeping quiet with out taking action and surrender to hooliganism and terrorism then it is nothing but a big blunder and weakness.Let her clearly understand the facts that what is happening in Kashmir and who are all behind this unwanted situation.We can not adopt one method of peace.We have given enough opportunities and umpteen no. of options which are exhaustive.The only method left out is to curb these dangerous activities in its own ways and those methods should be very fitting,very firm and permanently leave an impression on the minds of those perpetrators to stop their activities.

Posted by Chandrashekar Narasimhaiah,free lance journalist/consulltant at freelance journalism/ consulting|23 Aug, 2010

What is happening in Kashmir is the after effect of complex socio-political happenings over the past 60 years. If we aim to attack the issue on the surface level based on incidences happening there, we may not be able to put a long term cure to the issues. Today it has been made to appear as if some kind of Azadi, as irresponsibly claimed by some group of people, is the solution for the people to live comfortably. But Azadi from what?

Posted by Ashis Kumar Dey | 22 Aug, 2010

Since last 60 years we lost too much. We lost lives of people and securitymen more than a ful flash war during this period even govt. gives all things to kashmiries. Our politician leaders do not have courage. Each time we rush to America. Once our leaders says we dont want third party interfiear in Kashmir issue. Than why you run to America. What will US do what are our expactations from US. First you have to do. Some time you have take hard steps. First you do then n then only world will do. The Solutions : (1) India should stop all type of relations with Pakistan.

Posted by jay milwar | 21 Aug, 2010

The Kashmir Azadi, Before Azadi we should all think that First we are the Indians we should not support for the Partion of Kasmir, Kashmir is not about for 20 Years it has the history of many years as before indian freedom when india is divided in two partions one as India and the other as Pakistan, These Pakistanis are all doing this, Paksitan is Supporting all the Terrorism Activities in Jammu & Kashmir unless we stop the Terrorism we cannot talk about the kashmir Issue, These Political Leaders going on talkig about the peace commitee for Pakistan, but they guys are not responding why we should only go for Pakistan talking about Peace in Kashmir why can't they come for peace with us. Unless Pakistan remove their Terrorism in Kashmir we cannot talk about this. Army should also responed

Posted by Srinivas Golnakonda , Sr.B.D.E at Deltatec Solutions Pvt.Ltd. | 21 Aug, 2010

The auther opines about Kashmiri Azadi and the IDEA of India/swaraj.A lot of us have grown up with the "IDEA"of families/Tryrst with family rule and not India for the last 63 years from nation to village.In that case what is the common bondage ?Just families and their idiosynchrosies or what?Unlike USA where there is a common bondage of "dream" and voluntariness of coming together of various states of USA for achieving that "dream" of expression and common wealth creation and sharing(independence movement),we in the South Asia know only families and we have united ourselves through military might and any expression of "dream" is viewed with suspecion and shot down at the bud stage either through subtle suppression/encounter or physical encounter.To understand this,please visit villages any where in India. So what is the "IDEA" of India?Just non-voilence or satyagraha or what? This is very much related to Kashmiri Azadi or some other Azadi in the South Asia.There is a need for new direction and new vision.

Posted by Venkataramanaiah Chekuru,CEO at CVR SYNERGY MANAGEMENT SERVICES|21 Aug, 2010

in the name of kashmir, tax payers money is spent for kashmir - defence, peace keeping forces, and to stop terrorist influx into India. What is of more concern, is INSPITE of such expenses, the turmoil in state continue. Their is no POLITICAL WILL OF LEADERS OF KASHMIR - OMAR ABDULLA OR OPPOSITION EITHER. ONLY OPPORTUNIST. ASK THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE LEADERS TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THEY ARE ELECTED LEADERS FROM KASHMIR, ONCE IN POWER, FORGET THE MAIN TASK, BUSY ATTENDING SPORTS SHOWS, AND BLAMING THE CENTRE. THIS IS A BIG PAIN. CAN THEY NOT SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS? THE ELECTED LEADERS OF KASHMIR ARE THEIR OWN PEOPLE, ASK THEM, WHY BLAME CENTRE ALWAYS FOR THE PRESENT TROUBLE?? IF NOT POSSIBLE TO ATTEND, ASK FOR INDEPENDENT INDIA, HOW ARE THESE ELECTED LEADERS - OMAR ABDULLA OR OTHER

Posted by Abhijeet | 20 Aug, 2010

The Kashmir issue has a long history. Any problem allowed to linger on because of lack of determination and efficiency, would become worse day by day. This is what has happened to the Kashmir. As Mr. Rajendra Singh has pointed out, our political leaders have never approached Kashmir affairs with a commitment to put an end to it. As a result India is losing a lot of money, number of lives and a growing threat to its safety. There cannot be two opinions in that the people of the land should decide their fate. In Kashmir, the reference to 'People' has become very complicated. Who are the people of Kashmir? Are they entitled to decide the fate of Kashmir/ If so, are they independent enough to do so? ...See More

Posted by Kumbakonam Sambasiva Venkataraman,Associate Editor at Dynamic Youth Online Magazine|20 Aug, 2010

Every body is talking about Kashmir.. Kashmir... but nobody is talking about kashmiri pandits.The same article should have been written when kashmiri pandits were killed and thrown out of kashmir.

Posted by Prafulit Kaul,Director at 3P Publications|20 Aug, 2010

India Government Kashmir se indian army only one or two month ke liye remove kare or result saamne hooga.

Posted by RAJENDRA SINGH TAK | 20 Aug, 2010

THIS ISSUE IS VERY OLD AND OUR POLITICAL LEADERS STARTED FROM LATE MR. JAWAHAR LAL NEHRU TO MANMOHAN SINGH ARE NOT INTERESTED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE , ALL ARE GIVING STATEMENT IN MEDIA IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GROUND LEVEL. THEY ALL ARE KNOW VERY WELL IF THIS ISSUE IS SOLVED OUR LEADERSHIP WILL GONE. SINCE INDEPENDENCE LACS OF OUR SOLDIERS GIVE THEIR LIVES AND OUR LEADERS WOULD NOT CARE. STILL OUR LEADERS WANT TO TALK TO PAKISTAN WHEREAS NO ISSUE TO TALK TO PAKISTAN, OUR RAW/IB AND OTHER INTELLENGENCE BODY KNOW WHO IS CULPRIT. OUR LEADERSHIP INTRODUCE THE FRIENDSHIP WAY TO PAKISTAN. I AM OF THE OPINION TRY TO ADOPT THE ISREL MODULE THROUGH OUR FORCES ARMY / AIRFORCE / NAVEL AND CENCORED ALL THE MEDIA .

Posted by MAHESH DUTT | 20 Aug, 2010

First of all, Kashmir Maharaja decided to be a part of India. Let us all not forget this. If it would have been joining Pakistan, it would not exist in India. Also please note, people of kashmir talk of AJAD KASHMIR, INDEPENDENT KASHMIR. THEY are all confused lot. DO THEY KNOW BY ASKING FOR AZAD INDEPENDENT KASHMIR, WHAT WOULD BE RESOURCE FOR THEIR INDEPENDENT STATE?? WHO WILL FINANCE ?? WHAT ABOUT DEFENCE?? THEY WANT AZADI, AND ALSO WANT SPECIAL FINANCIAL STATUS, SO THAT INDIAN CITIZEN TAX PAYER MONEY IS SPENT FOR KASHMIRIS WHO DO NOT WANT TO SAY THEY ARE INDIANS???? WHY DO WE NOT ASK THIS QUESTION TO KASHMIRIS??? SPECIAL SPECIAL STATUS WHAT FOR??? IF THEY WANT TO BE PART OF INDIA, BE LIKE A NORMAL INDIAN CITIZEN ENJOY ALL RIGHTS A ORDINARY INDIAN HAVE IN INDIA. BE A PROUD.

Posted by Abhijeet Choudhuri | 20 Aug, 2010

What is the necessity of article 370 as it has become redundant in the present scenarion. It was valid when Pt. Nehru gave J&K a special status. Our political motivations have marred the very existence of Heaven on earth. Let a good sense prevail upon leaders & the public to live in harmony.

Posted by Rajan Dhir | 20 Aug, 2010

Once posting my comment, I went though the rest of them, and I found most of them blamign the foreign forces and in particularly PAKISTAN, now my question is "who will do and what will do, to you if you are very perfect in all the way,??" this is wat the INIDANs always blame others and forget themselves, we should know ourself first, .. Ok, Lets forget the past, even analysing deeply some what foreign criminals taking advantage over the innocense of Kashmiris and brain washing them to make their work done. this stupid government should stop getting warming from kashmir issue and look into the problem as its state and pluck down the criminals means this can be solved, for me the Kashmiris cannot be the victim.

Posted by Prabhu Sivaraman , Database Developer at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA | 20 Aug, 2010

This situation cannot be solved till both the government bodies understood the root cause for the issue, most often the government is removing the outer layer of the issue and forgets to go down in the deep and analyze the issue, the central government is taking the Kashmir as terrrorist state and fixing the solution in the same angle, According to me this is what the very basic reason for the 20 and more years of fire which turned desperately as terror from the state of world's most exiting tourist spot in INDIA. More over the civilians also understand we are a part of INDIA and we should produce our claims to the government in the peaceful way and get it done, (this was not happened because of misusing of Power of Military from its officers), addingly we can say/suggest .

Posted by Prabhu Sivaraman , not needed to voiceout my opinion at not needed to voiceout my opinion | 20 Aug, 2010

A peaceful and progressive Kashmir under Indian governance with multicultural society has to be the core of different measures adopted by the Government of India. I fully sympathisize with the innocent sufferers bearing the attrocities of millitants or armed forces. But one has to try and find out the root cause of all the bedlam going on in Kashmir. There is a lot of talk about azadi and swaraj. But azadi for whom, the separatist ISI's militants in the guise of local Kashmiri or Kashmiri muslims who have been influenced by these separatists. I heard a program face to face on CNN IBN, in which representative of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims were participants of the show. The Kashmiri Pandits put forth the atrocities bore by them in the 90s at the hands of the armed separatists, their.

Posted by Mahesh Gaur | 20 Aug, 2010

I am affraid that Kasmhir kahin next Falastien na ban jaye, so all the indians as well as pakistanis should think about it and stop to stage bloody phases in jannat nishan kashmir. i hope if we will try for this cause god also will help us.

Posted by Haleem Athar Soharwardi | 20 Aug, 2010

Actually as per my thinking i think we have to think on this issue seriously most of our militarial,Economical package given by central govt to govt of J&K for transforming lives in J&K basically in valley due to a special sympathy or due to importance of J&K in terms of millitry action but after long study on impact of indian govt action in J&K i knows that some of external forces from POK & Some leaders called algavvadis are taking its benefits & they are not treated as indian citizen but only treating as Kashmiris because they know the importance & blackmailing indians govt & citizens of india by disturbing peace of place that is our in our hearts soft corner.Now time to take strict action on POK & all such extrernal forces forcefully.Sometimeto save humanity need to appologies some

Posted by Jay Oza | 20 Aug, 2010

Ok evwey thing is absolutely correct but you just try to understand the nature of kashmirs local politicians they are either directoly or indirectly connected to anti indian agencies who are in favour of pakistan &all of them are get directed by these peoples so altimetely they are having very good wealth but they always work against indian government policies.First offall they must teach to their local peoples about pakistans economy & how terrible is surrvive there.then defenately the locals will not support to anti govt. agencies & will get freedom from every type of terririsom

Posted by hari | 20 Aug, 2010

The issue is genuine. The rights of the Kashmiris must be treated sympathetically by the nation and the people outside J&K. Indian government should consider the Kashmiris as its own citizens and, I hope, is considering so even now. But the question is are the Kashmiris willing to be considered as citizens of India and not Kashmiri Citizens of India? This has been the major blockage on the way to solution of the Kashmir Issue.

Posted by Basudev Mahapatra,News Head at HotnHit Newsfeatures|20 Aug, 2010

This sort of menance should be stopped immedialtely, Agonising wait to see their own kith and kin is still there in the eyes of Kashmiri's. Come what may our government should take to stop all this.

Posted by Sumit | 20 Aug, 2010

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Posted by anand vikram | 20 Aug, 2010