KASHMIRI LEADERS SHARE PERSPECTIVES WITH CODEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 009031

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KISL PBTS PHUM OREP IN PK
SUBJECT: KASHMIRI LEADERS SHARE PERSPECTIVES WITH CODEL
BURTON

Classified By: DCM Robert Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (SBU) Kashmiri political leaders and human rights
advocates described in differing viewpoints the problems
facing Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and emphasized the need for
redoubled peace efforts between India and Pakistan during a
November 28 meeting with CODEL Burton and embassy officers.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,
Chairman, All Party Hurriyat Conference
--------------


2. (C) The Mirwaiz remarked that a political solution to the
J&K problem will not be found through the bilateral dialogue
between the India and Pakistan and that the residents of the
Valley must be included in the process. He noted the
Hurriyat's position that the future entity of Kashmir must
comprise the land which was historically J&K, not the one
reflected by current borders. Mirwaiz stated that the
current process is too slow and questioned the seriousness of
both India and Pakistan, theorizing that the two governments
were "just biding time" and not engaging in a genuine
dialogue. The opening of the bus route across the line of
control (LoC) was an important confidence building measure
(CBM),observed Mirwaiz, but he expressed disappointment that
no other CBMs have since been implemented.


3. (C) Acknowledging that human rights abuses by security
forces in the Valley have decreased over the last three
years, Mirwaiz asserted that the GOI should decrease troop
levels in order to reduce tensions. Commenting that "with
only 3,000 to 5,000 militants in the region, the GOI does not
need hundreds of thousands of troops to maintain control,"
Mirwaiz asserted that the GOI should make the necessary
changes on the ground to facilitate a peaceful solution.
Mirwaiz suggested that a military solution is not attainable,
and the GOI and GOP must change their historical stances in
order to find a political resolution to the problem.

Omar Abdullah,
President, National Conference and Member of Parliament
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Abdullah, who represents Srinagar in the Lok Sabha,
acknowledged that the National Conference and the Hurriyat
differ on how to solve the J&K issue. He remarked that the
Hurriyat seeks a solution reflecting pre-1947 borders, while
the National Conference wants a resolution in line with the
"existing special relationship J&K has with India" and in
accordance with the Indian Constitution. However, he agreed
with Mirwaiz that military force would not succeed and that
India and Pakistan must move away from their stated
positions. According to Abdullah, Islamabad has gone farther
than Delhi in recent years in changing their stance, and it
is now time for the Indian Prime Minister to start thinking
"outside the box." He proffered that each time there is a
new proposal, the MEA is the first to "shoot it down,"
demonstrating that the GOI is quite content with the status
quo. He also discounted the claims that the GOI has a road
map for J&K, commenting that, as the leader of the party
dedicated to finding a solution within the Indian
constitution, he should be shown such a plan were it to
exist.


5. (C) Abdullah commented that improvements often listed by
J&K watchers, such as holding sporting and cultural events,
have not really benefited the people in the Valley. The
recent earthquake has forced the hand of the Indian and
Pakistani governments, Abdullah observed, but he will
withhold judgment until concrete results are achieved. He
concluded that "a solution will not be found because India
and Pakistan want a solution, it will be because the rest of
the world will demand it."

Madhu Kishwar,
Center for the Study of Developing Society
--------------


6. (C) Kishwar, a well-known human rights activist, noted
that the "Kashmir problem" affects many more people than just
Kashmiris, and that the region is multi-ethnic and
multi-cultural. Indicating that many of the groups, such as
the Pahari, Bakkarwals, Gujjars, Buddhists and Pandits, have
different opinions on the future status of J&K, she asserted
that a solution to the conflict in the Valley must include
their sentiments. A problem that also needs to be overcome
is the lack of credibility of local politicians, Kishwar
stated. She noted that many politicians change their
position depending on their audience, and the electorate does
not trust them to tell the truth. She concluded that in
order to strengthen the peace process, it is important not to
discount the many small improvements that have taken place.
Highlighting human rights improvements since 2004, such as
increased voter turnout and a decrease in military abuses,
she suggested that the parties involved analyze these small
successes and find a way to translate them to the larger
picture.

Dr. Ajay Chrungoo,
Chairman, Pannun Kashmir
--------------


7. (C) Dr. Chrungoo, a Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu),argued that
when the other participants talk of "Kashmiris," they do not
include Pandits in this group and asserted that the first
expression of separatist violence was the ethnic cleansing of
Pandits from the Valley in 1989. He warned that if these
atrocities were not addressed and the Pandits' concerns
heard, there would continue to be problems in the region.
Chrungoo reiterated Delhi-based analyst Radha Kumar's call to
include all of the ethnic and religious groups in the
conflict resolution process. He warned that the radical
Muslim element of the separatist movement is by far the most
dangerous, and it is now targeting moderate Muslims.
Discounting claims that the 2004 election was an important
step, he commented that an election held under the threat of
violence, with over 200 people killed, cannot be considered
free and fair. Chrungoo concluded that the politics of the
Kashmir Valley have been exclusionary (of Hindus, Shias and
Sikhs),and if this trend continues it will validate
extremism and result in another "Afghanistan."

Wajahat Habibullah,
Chief Information Commissioner of India
--------------


8. (C) Mr. Habibullah, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir)
during the early 1990s, highlighted that the meeting of this
diverse group in Delhi to discuss openly the issue was
significant in itself as a sign of India's and J&K's
democracy. He noted that such discussions have also occurred
in Kashmir, including a public event in Srinagar between Omar
Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman
Yasin Malik. Habibullah remarked that there are many
positive developments occurring in the Valley. "The fact
that there is a working government is notable considering,
until recently, there was an open insurgency, which caused
the collapse of the administration and the exodus of the
Pandits," he asserted. Habibullah argued for free and full
democracy in order to solve the Valley's woes, noting that
with only 20 percent participation in the Valley during the
last election, it had yet to occur fully.

Dr. Radha Kumar,
Delhi Policy Group
--------------


9. (C) Kumar signaled that the recent earthquake could
create an "enormous opportunity" for the adoption of more
CBMs between India and Pakistan. She noted that relief
efforts could develop greater ties between governments, civil
society and the Valley residents, resulting in a more genuine
discussion of the problem. She noted that there are ongoing
talks regarding the devolution of power, which she does not
see on the "other side of the border." She warned that
radical terrorist groups have carried out extensive
post-disaster work, giving a "shot in the arm" to the
militants, and that we need to double our efforts to move the
democratization process forward.

Representative Dan Burton
--------------


10. (C) Thanking the participates for the informative
discussion, Rep. Burton noted that, as a long-time follower
of the Kashmir issue, he intended to raise their points in
upcoming meetings with PM Singh and President Musharaff.


11. (U) This cable has been cleared by Congressman Dan Burton.
MULFORD