Ceasefire is a half-hearted step, Vajpayee doctrine must be revived: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq advised ET’s Ajmer Singh in a telephonic interview that the unilateral ceasefire announced by means of the Centre in Kashmir for the holy month of Ramzan is a superb but half-hearted step and that the Vajpayee doctrine will have to be revived to deal with what is primarily a political problem. Edited excerpts:
Can Hurriyat reciprocate the Centre’s gesture of unilateral ceasefire and attraction to militants to honour ceasefire, a minimum of all over the month of Ramzan?
As a long way as Ramzan ceasefire is anxious, the rest that prevents killings and repression generally is a welcome step but we really feel this is a half-hearted step. This pause-now-and-start-later policy will not work. After Ramzan, killings will delivery again?We are only a click away or cause clear of getting killed. We will have to understand that ceasefire is not any answer. This has to be coupled with a political approach. Kashmir isn't a regulation and order or a sadak-bijli-paani (roads-power-water) problem; it's solely a political problem about aspirations of folks.

So what are the imaginable CBMs?
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has to head; it must be withdrawn. The region has to be demilitarised – at any given time, we have now five-eight lakh troops here. We agree when Army says it's not a win-win scenario for someone. In any case, it's not the Army’s activity to engage with or target civilians

The Centre has initiated an amnesty scheme for stone pelters, and Prime Minister Modi has announced major initiatives in the Valley...
Modi’s mantra of vikas (building) will not work in Kashmir we really feel the Vajpayee doctrine has to be revived. Unfortunately, ever since this executive has taken over, there has been a whole U-turn on that The provide dispensation has to understand we're shedding children and there's rigidity on LoC and IB (global border). New Delhi has at all times blamed the entirety on Pakistan; but today it is all localised.

Why can’t Hurriyat be successful upon stone pelters?
Stone pelting is spontaneous. There is such a lot of anger, there's absolute hate. Students are popping out and reacting. We have a deadly scenario here. Educated youth are joining militancy, younger boys barge into stumble upon sites to loose militants. They fear nothing, they aren't in any one’s regulate.

Can’t Hurriyat take some initiative – a minimum of factor an attraction to the protesting youth?
What can we do, we are not even allowed to come out. We are both underneath arrest or detention. The Centre has choked the gap for political engagement. Some years again Hurriyat used to head out in towns, cities and villages. There used to be a connect, there used to be some political engagement, but that area has been choked. We were targeted by means of the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and Hurriyat used to be projected as a villain sponsoring stone pelters. Many Hurriyat activists were arrested You (the government) needed a fall guy – that used to be Hurriyat. And a large phase of the media used to be part of the witch-hunt,today the placement is way worse that remaining 12 months who do you blame now?

You said there has been a U-turn with regards to policy…

The response of state has been ruthless… paramilitary forces continue to make use of pellet weapons and chilli grenades. The different day after we gave a decision to specific unity with Palestine, folks were fired upon. We are at the mercy of troops, only a cause clear of getting killed. It has change into a struggle for survival. In the Vajpayee technology, there used to be some political engagement. It is time provide dispensation understands that army approach will not work and that there's a need to relook at policies afresh.

Are you open to dialogue with the Union executive or with different stakeholders? Has the interlocutor on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, approached you for talks?

Nobody is in opposition to dialogue, but the flooring scenario has to be conducive. Every different day there are killings and extreme drive is being used. Sharma sahib will have to be a well-meaning particular person, but it appears he has no mandate. There is not any readability; this initiative seems to be just to shop for time.

So what is the manner ahead?

Well both Implement global agreements on Kashmir or have Talks. It talks have to happen then There has to be a shift in policy and approach in dealing with Kashmir and Pakistan.permit all stakeholders to enagage and talk. Let there be intra-Kashmir dialogue to begin with ,with the intention to include all areas of J&Okay, adopt Vajpayee’s approach, which used to be to engage with both Pakistan and Kashmir and give political area and stop repression.