The home minister might impress his admirers by saying that there was no requirement to be “like-minded”, only “right-minded” for effective dialogue to be initiated, but semantic jugglery will not suffice to open any doors in as intense and protracted an impasse as the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.

To be fair to Mr Rajnath Singh, another security review was his top priority on his latest visit to the Valley, so little was expected and little was gained on the larger issue of conflict-reduction. Conflict-resolution would demand homework, and initiatives that were not included in his battle-plans: at least not for this two-day trip.

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What assessment he made of the ground situation will only be evident when the government takes a decision on extending to the Amarnath Yatra duration the Ramzan “go slow” directive to the security forces. The feedback suggests that while there has been no palpable reduction in militant activity since the NICO was launched, there has been some reduction in members of the public stoning security force personnel.

A small start perhaps, yet something which can be built upon. It is however difficult to understand, propaganda and rhetoric apart, upon what the minister bases his optimism that a breakthrough is in the offing.

True that the Special Representative is continuing his efforts without too much to show for them: well, he is entitled to the benefit of doubt, maybe some groundwork has been done. Still, the bottom-line remains that there is no need to make peace with friends ~ and of dialogue with adversaries there are no pointers.

The home minister must not be carried away by the warmth and positivity he experienced with sportspersons ~ there have always been a sizeable section of “friendly” people in the Valley, else tourism and handicrafts would not have retained their place in normal life.

Unfortunately, New Delhi attaches too much significance to tourist arrivals and handicrafts sales etc ~ the common folk have to continue their struggle to make ends meet. The minister was right in pointing out that the separatists were encouraging local youth into disruptive activity while their own children lived in less-hostile circumstances, but his advocating a choice between “development” and “destruction” is much too hackneyed to have major impact.

And the dichotomy in the coalition government does not facilitate harnessing youthful energies ~ a couple of national-level players here, a few “toppers” there is not a fair assessment of ground realities. Extending the “ceasefire” can only be mini-step, a peace process demands a lot more.

Alas, despite Mr Dineshwar Sharma’s endeavours, no comprehensive strategy to “win friends and influence people” has been developed and implemented. North Block sometimes talks of out of the box action, but in neither J&K, the Maoist-infested zone, nor even violence-impacted regions of the North-east has much imagination been brought to bear.