Opinion | How India Communicates To The World The Benefits Of Giving J&K A Brand New Image Will Be Critical

In another demonstration of strong political will, the Union government revoked Article 370 on August 5 and introduced a bill in Parliament to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories—J&K with a legislature and Ladakh without one. Article 35A, which allowed the J&K government to decide on permanent residents and some special rights, got scrapped automatically. Thus, the tenuous bond of Article 370 has been substituted by full integration of J&K with the Union of India. This dec­ision is perhaps the finest tribute to the thousands of security forces, political leaders/workers, journalists and civilians who lost their lives for the cause of integration of J&K with India over the years. Though there’re enough ind­ications about such a decision, the deeply ent­renched vested interests that thrived on keeping India festering and the Kashmiri people on the edge seems to have been shaken.

In order to ensure sound implementation and positive outcomes from this momentous resolution, it is crucial that five critical issues are seen in the right perspective, and accordingly an equal number of elements of caution are heeded.

First, Article 370 was meant to be “temporary, transitional and special”. Despite 70 years of aut­onomy to the state government in all matters exc­ept external affairs, defence and communications, the relationship of Kashmir with the rest of India became more and more vulnerable to ext­ernal and internal manipulation.

Second, the special rights provided by Article 35A on the larger canvas of Article 370 created an unnecessary chasm between citizens of Kashmir and the rest of the country. Revocation of these special provisions allows all Indian citizens to buy property and invest in J&K, thus opening a new economic landscape. In addition to private industry there is scope for academic institutions to come up. The people of J&K secure their ‘right to prosper’ much like any citizen of the country.

Third, the weak link between Kashmir and rest of India has been exploited over the years by Pakistan for its proxy war with unabashed use of terrorists as strategic weapons. More recent and much more ominous are the designs to widen and deepen the abyss, by pushing agendas through instruments like Islamic State and propaganda of Ghazwa-e-Hind.

Fourth, given the growing proximity between China and Pakistan, the relationship between J&K and the rest of India is much too sensitive to remain dependent on fragile temporary arrangements. There is progressive enmeshing of China into the J&K region. In 1963, Pakistan transferred the Shaksgam area to China, and now with CPEC running through Gilgit-Baltistan, the complexities are multiplying.

Fifth, the political landscape needs to be more democratic, affording people more options and opportunities. These special provisions have given rise to politics of convenience managed by a handful of separatist and mainstream politicians, with ideologies often blurring, and people suffering from mis-governance and corruption.

Going forward, it is important that the immediate aftermath is managed deftly. In doing so, first and foremost should be an effective communication campaign, using all possible direct and indirect media for the people to understand the benefits of this decision. It is crucial to be mindful of the sensitivities involved. The Union home minister’s statement that “we don’t want J&K to remain a Union territory forever, it will become a state again once the situation improves” has been welcomed by the people.

Second, concomitant measures are essential to check street protests and violence engineered by political leaders, overground workers of terrorists, their funders and handlers in Pakistan. Third, the positive change must be visible to the people in the form of substantial initiatives. The challenge is to make the population that suffers from a sense of alienation and despondency, which is continuously bombarded by propaganda, to perceive the situation positively. Economic measures with clear signs of sustainability can have a positive impact. Underscoring economic dividends of investments from other parts of the country should not lead to the local population feeling overwhelmed. The process must be gradual and respect local concerns. Enhanced security measures must be regularly reviewed for progressive reduction.

Fourth, keeping the international community informed on the decisions and progress should have a salutary impact. Strategic communication of national interest and intent is essential to sec­ure the information domain from manipulation by the adversary. Fifth, expanding local leadership is a must to fill in the void and provide alternatives of hope. Local leaders can help in the transition towards a better future.

Lt Gen. (retired) Subrata Saha, Former deputy army chief and Kashmir Corps commander, is now a member of National Security Advisory Board. Views expressed are personal.