Kashmir issue: People-centric approach the way forward: scholar
Dr Akhtar said India and Pakistan dropped “jugular vein - integral part” terms to “human security and development.”
India and Pakistan will have to move from having a state-centric approach to one that is people-centric for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This was stated by Dr Shaheen Akhtar, a senior research analyst, at a roundtable discussion at the Institute of Regional Studies here on Wednesday, said a press release issued by the institute.
Dr Akhtar was of the opinion that with change in the regional and global realities, a military solution to Kashmir had become obsolete. She highlighted that the economic and energy needs of India and Pakistan as well as the global redefinition of the concept of security in favour of human security had compelled the two countries to talk peace.
She added that the pressures of increasing population and the need for economic and energy security have gradually pushed Pakistan towards normalisation of relations for India.
The Kashmiri leadership, she said, had also expressed its willingness towards accepting an alternative solution acceptable to India, Pakistan, and the Kashmiris, which was beyond their long-held position in favour of self-determination.
Dr Akhtar said that India and Pakistan had come a long way from their stated positions on Kashmir like the “jugular vein” and “integral part” to “human security and development.” She appreciated Pakistani leadership for showing the courage in redefining Pakistani narrative on Kashmir after the resumption of the composite dialogue in 2004.
Dr Akhtar regretted the fact that Pakistan’s bold initiatives on Kashmir during Musharraf era were not reciprocated in the same spirit by India.
Foreign policy analyst, former Ambassador B A Malik said that Pakistan’s Kashmir policy was out of sync with its domestic realities, and that the decision-makers need to rethink their policy towards India in general and on Kashmir in particular. He said that peace, instead of Kashmir, was the core issue for Pakistan.
Agreeing with Malik, defence analyst Lt Gen. (retd) Saleem Haider said that India is an emerging economy of the world and the way forward for Pakistan would be to benefit from the growth of India.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2011.