Shab-e-siyah meiN sitaray

Shab-e-siyah meiN sitaray talash karta hai
Woh shakhs jhootay saharay talash karta hai

ban gayaa khud woh raushni apni
Jo noor-e-haq kay shararay talash karta hai

Bahut azeez hai aazadi-e-samandar bhi
Ye dil magar phir kinaaray talash karta hai

bin kahay baat jis say pahunchay unhay
Woh kuch aisay ishaaray talaash karta hai

Aa kay ham dil jaloN ki basti meiN
Chara-gar dil kay maaray talash karta hai

Chashm-e-jaaN hi nahi rahi jismeiN
Be-wajah kyooN nazaaray talash karta hai

Ishq-e-dereena

Sheesha-e-dil meiN kisi ka aks madhdham ho gaya
Jaanay kaisay be-asar woh ishq-e-paiham ho gaya

Sozish-e-dil ki abhi tak yaad haiN teesaiN hameiN
Kuch hawaa aisi chali har zakhm marham ho gaya

Tha chaman bhi un dinoN furqat meiN apna ghamgusaar
Waqt jab guzra to bas marhoon-e-mausam ho gaya

Shaam se har daagh-e-dil ashk-e-khooN rota raha
Raat jab gahri huyi har daagh shabnam ho gaya

Kuch to aisi baat thi uski nigah-e-naaz meiN
Jo bhi uskay paas pahuncha pal meiN bedam ho gaya

Uski qurbat meiN jisay kuch aur dikhta hi na tha
Uskay jaatay hi yehaN har shakhs mahram ho gaya

Woh raha har anjuman meiN ham se yuNhi be-nayaaz
Ham se hi ahd-e-wafa ka baab qayam ho gaya

Kya bataeiN dil ko aisi ulfatoN meiN kya mila
Reit ka chota sa zarra maah-o-anjum ho gaya

Chaumukhi Tanhaayi

Ek baat samajh meiN aayi hai
Ye chaumukhi tanhaayi hai
Is samt chalooN, us samt chalooN
Jis samt chalooN gahraayii hai

Har shahr hai veeraN veeraN sa
Har shakhs hai hairaN hairaN sa
Har sham hai dhnudli dhundli si
Har shama hai dheemi dheemi si

Is shahr meiN ek saudayii hai
Ye shama jis nay jalayii hai
Ek baat samajh meiN aayi hai
Ye chaumukhi tanhaayi hai

Gul, bootay, saaghar, la’al-o-guhar
Rut, mausam,shayr, shams-o-qamar
But, sang, khuda, shamsheer-r-separ
Haq, raast, saza, zindan-o-zehar

Har rang meiN ek raa’nayii hai
Har raah meiN ek ruswaayi hai
Ek baat samajh meiN aayi hai
Ye chaumukhi tanhaayi hai

Ye rishtay , dost, shanasaayi
Sab apni dhun meiN phirtay haiN
Ye ishq, muhabbat, naaz-o-ada
Sab yuNhi man meiN bastay haiN

Sab naam-o-nasab parchaayi hai
Sab mehr-o-wafaa harjaayi hai
Ek baat samajh meiN aayi hai
Ye chaumukhi tanhaayi hai

Kuch dasht-o-jabal sar karnay haiN
Ek saadha sehraa baqi hai
Hai raah meiN chhotaa daldal bhi
Ek aag ka darya baaqi hai

Is paar na ek shaidaayi hai
Us paar na ek shaidaayi hai
Ek baat samajh meiN aayi hai
Ye chaumukhi tanhaayi hai

Azaadi – 63 saal baad

Kaisi talab hai iski, tishna-laboN se poocho
Ham be-khabar haiN jinko bin-maaNgay mil gayi hai

Mazloom thay kabhi jo zaalim banay hua haiN
Insaaf ki zubaaN phir kaatoN se sil gayi ai

KhwaboN pe khanjaroN se phir vaar hai kisi ke
Zanjeer se zameeN ki buniyaad hil gayi hai

Hai soch par bhi jinki sipah-e-syah muqarrar
Kaisay ye sang-bari ghir unkay dil gayi hai

Phir khoon-e-naujawaaN se hai surkh bagh-e-jannat
Phir tabish-e-hina se har jheel khil gayi hai


Tanzil


Glossary:

Talab: Craving
Tishna-laboN: Thirsty
Be-khabar: Unaware
Mazloom: Victim
Zaalim: Oppressor
Insaaf: Justice
KhwaboN: Dreams
KhanjaroN: Daggers
Vaar: Attack
Zanjeer: Chain
Buniyaad: Foundation
Sipah-e-syah: Black Cammandos
Sang-bari: stone pelting
Khoon-e-naujawaaN: Blood of the young
Surkh: Red
Bagh-e-jannat: Garden of paradise
Tabish-e-hina: The shine of Hina ( Mehndi)

Phir wahi mausam

Phir dabay paaoN wahi mausam hua hai jalwaa-gar
Aur fizaa meiN khauff ki parchhaiyaaN aayiiN nazar
Ab ke dakkan se hawa nafrat ki uththi hai rafeeq
Kaun jaanay kis taraf hai in hawaaoN ka safar

Phir wahi chingaariyaaN uth-ti hui taqreer se
Aur diloN par zehr-paashi nashtar-e-tahreer se
Kuch naye chehray sayaasat ki wahi ochhi besaat
Khel dahshat ka puraana mulk ki taqdeer se

En ki saazish se kaheeN phir bat na jaye ye samaaj
Aur sankat meiN ghirey phir se ye jamhoori mezaaj
Khoon maasoomoN ka dharti par bahaaya jaye phir
Aur bithayaa jaye dil par an-kahay ek bhay ka raaj

Is se pehle ke ta-assub ke ye andhay peshwa
Tang kar deiN ya zameeN ye aasmaaN aur ye hawaa
Chheen le aazadiyaaN afkaar ki , iqraar ki, inkaar ki
Chheen leiN lauh-o-qalam , meri nawa teri nawa

Aao badhkar rok deiN inkay ye ithlaatay qadam
Aur milkar tod deiN nafrat ki taaqat ka bhadam
Ek dafaa phir is zameeN se aye mere ahl-e-watan
Naghma-e-wahdat sunaaeiN is jehaaN ko milkay ham

Tarz-e-Sukhan

Shaayri kaisi ho meri, ho mera tarz-e-sukhan kya
Bahr ho azaad ya phir qaafia ho ham-wazan kya

Soz-o-saaze-e-zindagi ho maqsad-e-ashaar mera
Fikr-e-aalamgeer ho ya kaawish-e-deen-o-watan kya

Bar sar-e-aflak hoN mere takhayyul ki udaanei.n
Sirr-e-takhleeq-e-jahaaN ya raaz-e-qais-o-kohkun kya

Maddiyat ki hawa se maiN bacha looN apna daaman
Garmi-e-shauq-e-junooN ya rahbaana pairhan kya

MausmoN ke rang saare apni nazmoN meiN utaarooN
Shokhi-e-dast-hena ya sabza-e-sarr-o-saman kya

Baazoo-e-qatil jhatak dooN reekhttey ke zor se maiN
Shayraana adl ho ya inqalab-e-jaan-o-tan kya

Phir se raushan ho diloN meiN deen ki shama-e-farozaaN
Ijtehad-e-asr-e-nau ya taqleed-e-andaz-e-kuhan kya

Ho mere ashaar se ahl-e-wafa ki tarjumanee
Ilm ki mauj-e-rawaa.N ya ishq ka deewanapan kya

Hastiy-e-shayar nehaaN hai sher mein alfaaz ban kar
Intashaar-e-boo-e-gul ya nauha-e-murgh-e-chaman kya

AarzooeiN

AarzooeiN

Najanay kab se ham yuNhi sar-e-bazaar baithay haiN
Hai dil meiN aarzoo jaaN bechne ki jaaN lutanay ki

Nawa-e-shauq se, khoon-e-jigar se, bikhray khwaboN se
Tilism-e-aab-o-gil say door ek duniya basaanay ki

Purani kashtiyaN lay kar, shikastah baadbaaN chun kar
hawaaoN ke nayay rukh par naya bedaa laganay ki

shafaq se rang laya kar , shaam sa khamoshiyaaN lay kar
jigar kay saaray daaghoN ko gul-e-laala bananay ki

har ek taar-e-nafas meiN shola-o-faulaad pighla kar
tan-e-aasaaN ko shamsheer-e- jahaN paima bananay ki

Rumooz-e-ishq kay aab-e-rawaaN meiN ghota zan ho kar
zameeN ki khaak ko auj-e-surayya tak udanay ki

Naya Bazaar

Beshak nigah-e-Qais ko deedar chahiyay
Aur husn-e-Yusufi ko khareedar chahiyay

Bazaar-e-nau-bahaar meiN bikta hai jo bhi bech
Bas bechnay ko taaqat-e-guftaar chahiyay

Ilm-o-hunar khareed kahiN, kar khaiN farokht
Dil beech ke nafay ka talabgaar chahiyay

Ab fikr-e-naqd chhor or lay lay sab udhar
Zan ho, zameen ho kay zar-o-tar chahiyay

Mil jayegaa tujhay bhi muNh maaNga daam yaan
Saudagiri meiN aadat-e-takraar chahiyay

Deen-o-khuda bhi arzaaN hai har taraf yahaN
But chahiyay, kaleesa ke meenar chahiyay

Thi zarq-o-barq ki tujhay is qadar hawas
To kyooN kaha tha chhota sa sansaar chahiyay

Qayal hai mere fan ka naqqad-e-nukta-cheeN
Fankar ko bhi aakhir ek bazaar chahiyay

Ab qeematoN ki fikr na kar jaaN apni bech day
Khoy huaa tujhay agar pindaar chahiyay

Bikta hai dekhiyay kehaaN Tanzil-e-be-ma’aal
Suntay haiN usko seerat-o-kirdaar chahiyay

Nauha-e-gham

Aj shab kuch is tarah har gosha-e-dil hai fegaar
Jaisay har tare-nafas meiN sabt haiN taar-e-fina

Kaisi nahamwaar haiN is shar ki raaheiN na pooch
Kis qadar dushwar hai ek ek qadam rakhan yehaN

Mit-tay jatay haiN nuqoosh-e-paa zameen-e-khyaal se
Reit say athkheliyaaN karti hai bedhangi hawaa

Jisko dekho pa-ba-zanjeer-e-giraft-e-maslihat
Janay kaisay shar meiN phaili ghulami ki waba

kyooN hai arzaaN is qadar masoom insanoN ka khooN
hai ye kamzori ki ya masoomiyat ki hai saza

is tarah phaili hai ab kay bazm meiN begaangi
yaad hai kisko yehaaN ab wada-e-mehr-o-wafa

dil ko rah rah kar bulata hai tilasmaati sarab
dasht ki raanaiyaaN har lamha seti hain sada

koi samjhaya ke kya hai raaz-e-hangaame-hayat
kyoon nahi kuch chara-e-gham be neyaazi ke siwa

Kaisay hui tabinda

Kaisay hui tabinda andheroN se saji raat
Tha zikr charaghoN ka, charaghoN se saji raat

Rakhshanda sitaroN pe raha abr ka saaya
Bhatkay huay rahi ki nigahoN se saji raat

Ek umr se mitna tha patengoN ka muqaddar
Mit-tay huay parwaanay ki saansoN se saji raat

Jis shokh ki zulfoN meiN chhipa sham ka sooraj
Us soorat-e-jaanaN ke khyaloN se saji raat

Jal kar hui khakastar har shakh-e-gulistaN
Jaltay huay khwaboN ke shararoN se saji raat

Din gharat-e-duniya, hai giraN rahat-e-giryaa
Tanzil-e-jigar-soz ke ashkoN se saji raat

Kisi ko kya khabar

Kisi ko kya khabar maiN kahaN kahaN se guzra hooN
Sulagtay shahr se jaltay makaN se guzra hooN

Dayar-e-shauq ki raaheiN nahiN hain kuch aasaaN
Na janay kitnay hi aatish-fashaaN se guzra huN

Woh tashnagi hai ke kisi cheez se nahi mit-ti
Mai-e-neshaat se aab-e-rawaaN se guzra huN

Ata hui aaba ko jis dar se deeda-ay-beena
Baghair dakhay ek umr usi asstaaN se guzra huN

Charagh jaltay rahey subh tak rang-e-inbesaat liyay
MaiN be-sabab shab-e- aah-o-fughaaN se guzran huN

Uthaye sar taktay rahay aarzoo meiN chhoonay ki
Gira jo sar par tab us aasmaaN se guzra huN

Bula rahay thhey har gaam par hazar daam-e-hayat
Chupaye lauh-o-qalam la-makaaaN se guzra huN

Phir dil-o-jaan hazeeN

Phir dil-o-jaan hazeeN, sham hai tanhaayi hai
Kisnay seenay meiN mere aag ye sulgayi hai

Rakh gaya kaun ye naghmay meri dahleez taley
Shab-e-dayjor meiN kisko meri yaad aayi hai

Woh jo milta hi nahiN uska gila kissay kareiN
Tum milay ho jo aaNkh ye bhar aayi hai

Usko dhooNdha hai bhadi bheed meiN aksar maiNay
Uske hissay meiN bhi shayd yahi tanhaayi hai

Sham hai, darya-e-shab ka kinara hai abhi
Har qadam dekh ke aagay badi gahraayi hai

Tere khaaboN ka nasheman nahiN ye band makaaN
Bas yehi baat dil-e-bezaar ko samjhaayi hai

Ghar ke benoor dareechoN se utha do parday
Kuch naye rang liye baad-e-saba aayi hai

Arz ye hai ke mile usko bhi dasht-e-JunooN
Log kahtay haiN ke Tanzil bhi saudaayi hai

Hai Baat kya kay

Hai Baat kya kay hawa-e-watan saazgaar nahi
Tan-aasaaN log bahut, dil-e-daaghdaar nahi

Jo dast-e-qatil o ahl-e-hawas ko rok sakei.N
Tamam shahr meiN aisay badah khaar nahi

Baghawato.n ki sadaaeiN haiN gonjte hai.N pahaad
Jo sang-o-khisht muqayyad tHe, be-ekhteyaar nahi

Na koi waada-e-farda, na ishq-e-posheeda
Teri wafaao.n pe ab hamko aitabaar nahi

Ye joo-e-khoo.n, bujha aftaab, ye haqeeqat hain
Mere takhayyul ka koi shaahkaar nahi

Jewaa.n lahoo se hai qaym rangeeni-e-hena-e-chaman
Hai kaun ahl-e-wafa jo sang-saar nahi

Un hi ke dam se hai qaym weqar-e-maikhana
Jo rasm-e-maikashi se kabhi sharmsaar nahi

Hai ismeiN gardish-e-ayyam par hayaat keha.n
Har ek lemha ke jab tera entezaar nahi

Gham-e-hayat ne daali hai.n bandishei.n warna
HameiN to yuN nahi ke kisi se pyaar nahi

Zubaan-e-taan mei.n larzish, dil-e-syaah mei.n yaad
Namaz-e-nyaaz hai yaaro, ye ishtehaar nahi

Ho shama kaisay farozaa.n, hangama ho bapa kaisay
Woh anjuman ke jeha.N zikr-e-yaar nahi

Glossary

Hawa-e-watan: air of my city, saazgaar: suitable, tan aasaa.n – comfort seeking, dil-e-daaghdaar: compassionate heart

Daste-qatil: murderer’s hands, ahl-e-hawas: evil forces, badah khaar: drunkard

Baghaawat: rebellion, sang-o-khisht: stones and pebbles, mugayyad: imprisoned, be-ekteyar: with no authority

Waada-e-farda: promise of tomorrow, ishq-e-posheeda: secret love, aitbaar: belief

Joo-e-khoo.n: river of blood, aaftab: sun, takhayyul: imagination, shaahkaar: materpiece

Jewaa.n lahoo: yong blood, rangeeni: colour, ahl-e-wafa: men of honour, sangassar: stoned

Weqar: pride, maikhana: bar, rasm: tradition, bandagi: submission to God, Sharmsaar: ashamed

Rawaa.n: moving, gardish-e-ayyam: alternation of days, hayat: life)

Gham-e-hayaat: pains of life, bandishei.n: obstacles

Zubaan-e-taan: twisted tongue, larzish: trembling, dil-e-syaah: blackened heart
Neyaaz: humility , ishtehaar: advertisement

Shama: candle, farozaa.n: lit, bapa: happen, anjuman: celebration/party, zikr-e-yaar: talk of the beloved

Ajeeb shor tha

Ajeeb shor tha jisnay mujhay jagaya tha
Andhera khwab tha , chehra nazar na aaya tha

Palat raha tha jo kal kuch puranay waraq
Kisi ka naam kitaboN mein baar baar aaya tha

Haseen waqt tha jab deyar-e-ghair meiN bhi
Tera khayal kabhi taaroN ki sham laaya tha

Hain is qadar pur-painch tere shahr ki raaheiN
Bhatak gaya woh jisnay raasta dikhaya tha

Usi ke dam se hui haaN aam meri ruswayyi
Woh shakhs jisko kabhi raazdaaN banaya tha

Woh log soye haiN bewaqt khawab-e-masti meiN
Payaam jinko kabhi jaagnay ka aaya tha

Tamaam zulm ki buniyaad chand ahl-e-hakam
Na janay kyoon inheiN hamnay khuda banaya tha

Utho jo saath chalo, Tanzil bhi chalay shayd
Bhataktay raastoN nay usko bhi kal bulaaya tha

Shaakh khyaloN meiN

Shaakh khyaloN meiN shajar ho jayegi
Raat KhwaboN mein sehar ho jayegi

Syaah sheeshoN meiN chhipi hai chashm-e-jaaN
Umr chhaoN meiN basar ho jayegi

Zindagi saloN meiN guzri be-nishaN
Maut lamhoN mein khabar ho jayegi

Shokh nazroN meiN bujhe kuch jalte teer
Aag seenoN meiN zahar ho jayegi

Dil sitaroN meiN hua be-abroo
Khak-saaroN meiN qadar ho jayegi

Ashk aankhoN meiN nehaN aur lab khamosh
Aah lafzoN meiN sharar ho jayegi




Shaakh - Branch
Shajar – Tree
Sehar - Dawn
Chashm-e-Jaan Eyes of the soul/beloved
Be-nishaaN Unremarkable
Shokh Naughty
NazroN Eyes
Be-abroo Not respected/ Lowly
Khaak-saar Modest/Humble
Qadar Respect/Value
Ashk Tears
Lab Lips
Aah Grief
Sharar Spark

Kashmir’s terrible thirst for freedom

Freedom’s terrible thirst, flooding Kashmir,
is bringing love to its tormented glass,
Stranger, who will inherit the last night of the past?
Of what shall I not sing, and sing?

Agha Shahid Ali, Kashmiri poet

According to independent estimates, close to hundred thousand dead and ten thousand missing in two decades of armed resistance with the Indian State and yet Kashmiris’ thirst for freedom seems far from extinguished. With the armed militancy at its lowest ebb and two relatively peaceful elections in the state, the level of protests and violence which have rocked the state over the last three summers are a crude reminder that the issue is far from settled. The immediate causes of these summer unrests have been Amarnath land transfer row in May ‘08, rape and murder of two young women in Shopian in May ’09 and fake encounters for rewards in cash and kind in Machil in April ’10. These incidents which have been occurring at an annual frequency for last three years have completely shattered the charade of normalcy in the state.

The new breed of young protestors who appeared on the streets after the aforementioned incidents have not taken to guns as their predecessors but resorted to pelting stones in face-to-face clashes with the police and paramilitary forces. The response of the security forces has been swift and heavy handed leaving more than sixty people, predominantly teenagers dead and scores injured over last two months. Each death has led to another round of protest leading to more deaths. Even the women and children have come on the streets raising their voices against the state. The idea of extreme oppression under the Indian military occupation has taken root again in the hearts and minds of people and another round of alienation with the Indian state seems underway. For the people of Kashmir, the only escape from this perceived oppression seems to be ‘Azaadi’ through the exercise of their right to self-determination.

This renewed vigour for self determination stems from the complete inertia and inaction of the governments involved and unabashed abuse of human rights by the rotten elements within the security establishment under the aegis of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Under the provisions of this act even a non-commissioned officer can shoot to kill and he need only be "of the opinion that it is necessary to do so for the maintenance of public order" and only give "such due warning as he may consider necessary". The army can destroy property on the mere suspicion of being a militant hide-out or an ammunition dump. The army can arrest anyone without a warrant, who has committed, is suspected of having committed or of being about to commit, a cognisable offense and use any amount of force "necessary to effect the arrest". Army can enter and search without a warrant to make an arrest or to recover any property, arms, ammunition or explosives which are believed to be unlawfully kept on the premises with the use of force necessary for the search. The army is supposed to handover the arrested persons to the nearest police station with ‘least possible delay’ but this delay is not quantified at all leading to arbitrary interpretations. Moreover, no legal proceeding can be brought against any member of the armed forces acting under the AFSPA, without the permission of the Central Government. This section leaves the victims of the armed forces abuses without a remedy.

These sweeping powers under AFSPA have resulted in innumerable incidents of arbitrary detention, torture, rape, and looting by security personnel. Yet, the Central Government has consistently refused to give permission to prosecute many of those accused. There are many cases where even after CBI enquiry and charge sheets, trial is yet to begin. The delivery of justice has been completely obstructed through the application of AFSPA to cover the blatant abuses. The National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) jurisdiction to J&K was restricted under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and at present it has negligible jurisdiction over human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. NHRC Chairman K.G. Balakrishnan as quoted by The Hindu recently, said that he wanted these restrictions removed while hinting that the limitations were binding the hands of the NHRC in providing succour to people of the valley who could have grievances on account of human rights

By the Government of India’s own admission as late as June 2010, there are only 500 armed militants now left in the valley. This number according to estimates used to be 35,000-40,000 during the peak years of insurgency. Yet, there has hardly been any scaling down in the presence of security forces in Kashmir since then. The number of security forces varies between different estimates from 400,000 to 700,000. Obviously such a huge presence during the relative years of peace and the frequent incidents of human rights violations by the security forces has taken its toll on the collective psyche of the people of Kashmir.

Yet, the plight of Kahsmiris has not received the same level of attention in the Indian mainstream as other acts of oppression around the country and the World. Civil society by and large except for a few lonely voices has been impervious to the goings-on in Kashmir and in most instances blamed the Kashmiris themselves for inviting their predicament. The primary reason for this insensitivity seems to be prevalent myths about the issue fed through well oiled propaganda machinery to the people of this country. For the recent round of unrest, first there were stories doing the rounds about how the stonepeltors were being paid daily wages and being radicalized by Lashkar-e-Toiba. Soon after that some ‘intercepted conversations’ about the plans to instigate the protestors appeared in the media between an alleged aide of a separatist leader and militants across the border. Then somebody alleged that there are terrorists hiding in the crowd who are directing the protests. A new theory appeared that the protests are limited to certain pockets which are known for Anti India activities. Then came another submission about how security forces did not have any option but to respond with force. Finally somebody came up and said that the youth are alienated because they did not see a future due to lack of educational and employment opportunities.

All these myths are being created to discredit a people’s struggle and dehumanize the Kashmiris’ inalienable demand for their fundamental right to live in their own lands with dignity. Any attempt to question the conduct of the security forces is met with shrill jingoistic response and the chorus of armed forces being the most credible institution in our country. The bogeyman of radicalization is erected in order to link the Kashmiri struggle to the idea of an insane and senseless global Jihad, thereby undermining its credibility whatsoever. The issues of economic impoverishment, unemployment and education are brought in to treat Kashmir as an issue that is same as what rest of India is grappling with. The state government is blamed for the current events in order to demonstrate that Kashmir is a law and order problem while paying lip service to the political nature of the problem.

The basic question of Kashmiri aspirations, Indian commitment to Kashmiris at the time of ascension and our mishandling and mismanagement in the last six decades is never brought up. Whatever has happened in Kashmir since the outbreak of insurgency is one of the darkest chapters in the annals of our democracy. Yet, no questions, no answers, only rhetoric and only myths!

So why is that we have not asked tough questions. Why is it that the teenagers are facing bullets with nothing but stones? Why is it that women are on streets with pots and pans? Why is still such a strong presence of armed forces even when we ourselves admit that the number of militants has drastically reduced? Why is it that a draconian act such as AFSPA still in force in Kashmir and other parts of India? Why is it that the Government does not allow those proved responsible for human rights violations to be prosecuted in a court of law? Why have we not asked for earliest possible resolution of the issue that has led to multiple wars?

The Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech asserted "In Jammu and Kashmir, we are ready to talk to every person or group which abjures violence." This is welcome proposition yet needs to be approached by all parties with cautious optimism. Similar experiences in the past have led to extreme bitterness. Those form the separatist ranks who in the past have responded to such offers from the Government of India have been short changed and undermined. In the last such talk after the initial photo-op every political creature moved out and left those who were dubbed as ‘moderate separatists’ to talk to the members of intelligence and security establishment, thereby completely undermining the political nature of talks. This in turn led to the loss of face for the moderate leaders in their constituencies and today their voices are hardly heard. As for the elected representative, somebody rightly remarked that they do not represent Kashmir in Delhi; rather they represent Delhi in Kashmir. Their credibility if there was any has been completely dented.

Therefore, the proposed talks have to be talks with the political representation from all sides and not the repeat of what has happened in the past if it has to take any step forward towards the resolution. Otherwise the talks will remain an exercise in futility and may even turn out to be counter productive.

The call of the hour for all parties concerned is to come down from the intransigent positions they have taken and think of Kashmir as a human tragedy and enable the direct participation of the victims of this conflict, be it those in valley, in Jammu, in Leh, in Gilgit-Baltistan or in Pakistan Administered Kashmir or those who have migrated to other places, in the final resolution and decision about its future. It is in the immediate interest of both India and Pakistan to resolve this issue at the earliest and save themselves from the perpetual animosity and its consequences. The resolution will be in the great interest of India which is getting ready to take a bigger role at the World stage and exhibiting aspirations of becoming a global power. However, any just resolution for the long lasting peace will have to keep Kashmiris at the centre of the equation and not treat Kashmir as merely a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.