Despite the J&K State BJP’s public opposition, ruling alliance partner Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday raised the pitch for a unilateral ceasefire and called upon Pakistan and the Hurriyat to respond to the offer.
Describing the silence of Pakistan and militant conglomerate United Jehad Council (UJC) as “meaningful”, senior PDP leader and close aide of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Peer Mansoor, told The Hindu that “time is opportune for Pakistan to respond to the new situation and the call for a ceasefire.”
“Pakistan and other stakeholders need to take a stand,” said Mr. Mansoor. He said the ceasefire could prove to be a confidence building measure, leading to a dialogue. “This could be a starting point for creating a conducive atmosphere for a dialogue over J&K. If all parties agree to a ceasefire, both external and internal dialogue processes will get a fillip in the near future. The ceasefire has to be dialogue-oriented,” he said.
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He asked local regional parties, including the National Conference (NC), to come out openly in favour of a ceasefire. “We have reached a situation in J&K where a Class 9 student tells his mother he wants to achieve martyrdom. It’s becoming an explosive situation. We all need to end the cycle of violence. Guns, whether of security forces or militants, will not achieve anything”. .
‘All-party meet with PM’
Another senior PDP leader and State Public Works Minister Naeem Akhtar asked the separatists, especially the Hurriyat, “to join hands with the all-party delegation likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and press for a ceasefire.”
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Both the factions of the Hurriyat have maintained a silence. Sources said any stand of the Hurriyat factions, headed by Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has to have the backing of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based UJC, especially Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.
Sources in the government said back channels with many stakeholders have been activated to “have a consensus on ceasefire.” Ms. Mufti also sought inputs from the security agencies, including the Army, on “measures required for cessation of hostilities in J&K” during the Unified Headquarters meeting on Friday, where she called for “scaling down operations during Ramadan and the Amarnath yatra.”
Separatist demands
“The onus of proving that the [ceasefire] offer is serious lies on New Delhi and the local rulers. There is need for concrete measures on the ground, which include justice in recent cases of killings, release of political prisoners and confidence building measures aimed at serious dialogue process,” said a senior separatist, insisting on anonymity.