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Three questions need to be asked about the Hurriyat. Who do the Hurriyat leaders represent? What can they deliver? What do they want?
First, who do the Hurriyat leaders represent? They certainly do not represent J&K’s voters. Hurriyat members refuse to contest elections that have been deemed fair by even impartial foreign observers. Do they represent Pakistan? If so, we do not need them. Our government is in touch with Pakistan—in August the PM is scheduled to meet President Musharraf in Islamabad. The Hurriyat leaders do not represent terrorists. They exercise no control over terrorists. On the other hand, terrorists have demonstrated their ability to bend the Hurriyat any way they want.
Possibly the Hurriyat represents the dictates of foreign interests in the West. Their meetings with US Congressmen or British MPs could explain their notions of exaggerated self-importance. Because without representing voters, or Pakistan, or the terrorists, puffed up Hurriyat leaders claim to speak for Jammu and Kashmir. By taking them seriously, the government appears foolish.
Secondly, what can the Hurriyat leaders deliver? They cannot influence Pakistan. They cannot influence the terrorists. And they have demonstrated no hold over the people of Kashmir because they refuse to contest elections.
Thirdly and finally, what do Hurriyat leaders want? We know what the National Conference and the PDP want. Both want greater autonomy, perhaps to the pre-1953 status. We know what the militants want. They want J&K to be part of an Islamised Pakistan. We know what Amanullah Khan and others in Pakistan-held Kashmir want. They want a united independent Kashmir. Without agreeing or disagreeing, one can talk with any one of these leaders. But how can one talk with the Hurriyat leaders when they cannot even state what they want? They say they want participation in a tripartite dialogue with India and Pakistan. Why should India or Pakistan talk with them? They represent no constituency. They offer no agenda.