After 1947 and the partition of British India into India and Pakistan, Kashmir assumed an even greater significance as the touchstone of the idea of India as a secular state, especially in contrast to Pakistan’s self-definition as the homeland for South Asian Muslims. On the events in Kashmir, other than uttering vague generalities about resolving the crisis through dialogue, they remained mum. Thus, the most effective means of resolving the current stand-off in Kashmir might ultimately be at the domestic level between the Indian state and Kashmiri organizations. In the absence of this, the result will be the predictable rejection by Kashmiri organizations — as with the recent Indian all-party delegation — of any offer of talks. Yet its attitude and policies towards Kashmir have remained remarkably unchanged, and this is even more notable given how catastrophic their effects have been on Kashmir, Kashmiris, India, and India’s image in the world.

Source: dna September 07, 2016 10:44 UTC