In categorically stating that “I will try my best” to meet leaders of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, the Centre’s Special Representative seeking to revive a dialogue process in Kashmir has done well to extricate himself from a complication created by the J&K leaders of the BJP ~ which includes the minister of state in the PMO. They had insisted that talking to separatists was not part of Mr Dineshwar Sharma’s mandate.

It was to avert avoidable complications that the home ministry never spelt out the specific terms of reference for Mr Sharma, but lesser lights of the party could not refrain from regurgitating “old hat”. This is not to suggest that Mr Sharma is on the verge of any kind of breakthrough, only to point out that by keeping open some windows of opportunity he has given himself greater possibilities of success than other initiatives: certainly more than the union home minister whose visits to the Valley were so “securityfocused” that interaction with anyone else of political consequence was a non-starter.

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The Special Representative has been realistic enough to have a discussion with former chief minister Omar Abdullah ~ though no formal talks with the National Conference have been proposed thus far. Mr Sharma’s first visit to Srinagar as Special Representative has been essentially a testing of waters; hopefully more forward movement will be generated in subsequent visits, particularly if he accepts Omar Abdullah’s advice to move beyond the confines of official guest houses and starts mingling with the common folk.

It is much too early to ask Mr Sharma what he has “recommended”, and assess the possibility of New Delhi accepting what he has ~ peace-making is a process not an event, and it is an open secret that there is a long haul ahead. A glimmer of hope is provided by Mr Sharma refraining from strident posturing ~ perhaps he is aware that Hurriyat leaders have massive egos which he must avoid bruising if he hopes to “engage” with them.

Local politicians queer the pitch by talking of the Constitution: in another context it had been emphasised that while any settlement/solution had to be found within the Constitutional framework there was no bar on talking to those who deemed themselves beyond that sacrosanct statute. The Hurriyat leadership could find itself in an awkward spot in the wake of Mr Sharma’s “offer” ~ its continuing refusal to dialogue with him could cost it some public sympathy, the common folk are desirous of a return to “normality”.

Obviously there is much shadow-boxing ahead, yet to rule out talking is to limit the non-military options of the government. The mainstream local parties have been somewhat reasonable, and hopefully the J&K BJP will also come around to accepting that peace cannot be made by talking to “friends” only