Back channel diplomacy should go on Kashmir

It is good that Union Home Minister P Chidambram has already announced that the Centre is prepared to talks all sections of Kashmiri groups, including those which are out of the mainstream of state politics, to solve all outstanding issues. To resolve the issues of Jammu and Kashmir, back channel diplomacy by Indian and Pakistani officials are going on in Bangkok. The talks have been kept out of the public domain. Track 11 is underway. There is need to be sincere for all parties concerned in the resolution of Kashmir. The Chairperson of the moderate wing of the separatist conglomerate Mirwaiz Omar Farooq is involved in talks with the Home Minister P Chidambram. But the problem in resolving the Kashmir issue is the difference of opinions among different secessionist groups. All are more or less dance at the tune of Pakistan.The unfortunate thing is that Mirwaiz is himself not on strong wicket. His other coalition allies like Shabir Shah and Nyaz Khan are differing with his stance. So they have demanded discussion on the issue within the Hurriyat Conference.Tahreek-i-Hurriyat boss and hardliner secessionist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is fiercely opposed to direct talks with Centre, and advocates only the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. Moderate Hurriyat Chairperson Mirwaiz is also talking of tripartite talks among India, separatist outfits of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. While the Centre has already made it clear that inclusion of third party is out of question. One thing that the Centre does not attach any importance is the participation of Kashmiri Pandit grups in the talks regarding the resolution of the outstanding issues of the state. While matter of the fact is that Kashmiri pandits have born the brunt most in the violence perpetrated by the secessionist and separatist forces in the state. They were forcibly driven out of their homeland by the secessionist elements. So Centre first seek the views of Kashmiri Pandits who have kept the Indian flags aloft even during the turmoil in the state in early 90s. The two important state political entities National Conference and People’s Democratic party are more or less espousing the cause of only muslim majority polpulation and demanding autonomy. Involving Omer Mirwaiz Farooq in talks behind the screen is good but Home Minister must be aware of the fact that he changes colour like chameleon. After returning from New Delhi, Mirwaiz changed his tack and he has made unreasonable demand of withdrawing security forces from civilian areas and withdrawal of AFSPA . The root of the Kashmir problem is secessionist and separatist leaders, who dictated from across the border. Untill their across the border channel is cut off, the problems remain be in Jammu and Kashmir.