DESPITE the toxic atmosphere currently poisoning Pak-India relations, it is welcome that Islamabad has reached out to New Delhi to discuss the Kashmir problem. On Monday, the foreign secretary gave the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad a letter intended for his counterpart in New Delhi, inviting him to discuss the issue. Instead of indulging in a blame game, this is the mature way to handle the situation. For over a month now, India-held Kashmir has witnessed severe unrest. Around 70 people have been killed in the violence, which was sparked by the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani by Indian security forces. A large number of youngsters have suffered eye injuries — with some being blinded — due to the pellet guns used by security men. And while the Indian establishment claims Pakistan is fuelling unrest in IHK, it is quite clear that the uprising is indigenous in nature, fuelled by New Delhi’s repressive methods in the held territory. Moreover, Narendra Modi’s remarks, repeated during his Red Fort speech on Aug 15, unnecessarily dragging Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir into the debate, have not helped matters on the bilateral front, or in addressing the unrest in IHK. Hence, in the midst of all this, Pakistan’s call for dialogue makes eminent sense — in fact, this can be an opportunity to revive the Pak-India dialogue process.

India should realise its strategy in the held territory has not borne fruit; militarising Kashmir has only increased the locals’ resentment against New Delhi, which has tried to paint the uprising as a mere law-and-order issue. The current unrest has roots in the history of the region, and political stalemate. Internally, the Indian government, through its ruling allies in Srinagar, the PDP, must reach out to the disaffected populace and work to calm the situation instead of unleashing the security forces. As Kashmir’s recent history has shown, brutal state repression will only further alienate the Kashmiris, and cause disenchanted youth to pick up the gun. India cannot deny that, despite the passage of several decades since the dispute emerged, Kashmir remains the flashpoint in the subcontinent and the prime reason for the absence of normal ties with Pakistan. That is why the Indian foreign secretary should respond positively to Pakistan’s invitation; both sides need to frankly and sincerely discuss Kashmir — and all other issues. Grandstanding and indulging in cross-border verbal duels will only make matters worse.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2016