Kashmiri people want ‘azadi’ from India: IHK CM

[LRE]

* Abdullah says India, Pakistan biggest hurdle to peace in Kashmir
* Army needs to punish soldiers responsible for killing two civilians

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: The Kashmiri people want ‘azadi’ (freedom) from the Union of India, Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said.

In an interview with the strategic journal, Force, Abdullah said he would facilitate engagement between New Delhi and the ‘azadi’ sentiment. However, he added that people wanted freedom from New Delhi, not him or Ghulam Nabi Azad or Mufti Muhammad Sayed. He said trade across the Line of Control (LoC) was disappointing, describing it as “not trade, but barter”. “If I send them stuff and am unable to call and track my payment, I am not in a position to supply goods to them,” he said.

Unfriendly atmosphere: The chief minister said poor relations between India and Pakistan were the biggest hurdle to peace and development in Kashmir. He said relations between the two neighbours directly impact the levels of infiltration and violence in IHK. He also said the outcome of the Indian general elections would have a direct bearing on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. “If the government at the Centre changes, that can prove to be a little bit of a stumbling block along the way,” he added.

Listing his priorities after the Lok Sabha elections, Abdullah said he would ensure the visible presence of military personnel was reduced, while state police adopted a more proactive role. He also called for the establishment of quick response teams to fight militancy.

No consistency: He also criticised successive regimes in New Delhi for lacking consistency in dealing with pro-freedom elements. “Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are not. Sometimes we want to give them passports, sometimes we don’t. I think there is a need to change this attitude,” he said. Agreeing with the European Union (EU) assessment that Kashmir was not an administrative issue, he said the political dimensions of the issue need to be addressed. “We made the mistake in the past of assuming the money was flowing in, the democratically elected government was in place, the violence levels were down so there was no Kashmir issue,” he said, adding that regardless of the level of tourism, the flames of militancy would continue to rekindle without full understanding of the political dimensions.

Army role: On the recent standoff between his government and the army over the killing of two civilians, he said he wanted punishment for the guilty soldiers. “We want the army to send out the right message. But if they want to respond in routine by transferring the guilty to another theatre, we will also respond in routine,” he added.

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