Irrespective of the results of recently concluded polls in J&K, the event itself marks a turnaround in the situation, not only in the strife-ridden state, but the entire South Asian region. The high voter turn out of nearly 62 per cent, which is in sharp contrast to about 42 per cent in the 2002 elections, vindicates the stand of those who were in favour of holding polls despite opposition. The real test of democracy, as I have maintained, is not how it fares in the best of times but how it fares in the worst of times. In this case, the violence relating to transfer of the land to a religious shrine board on the eve of elections almost derailed the election process.
While the credit for free and fair polls must go to the government for diffusing the crisis over land transfer and the Election Commission, the salient yet persistent role of the security forces, especially the Army for bringing militancy under control in recent years, must not be discounted. Against nearly 1400 civilian casualties in 1996, the number of those who lost their life in J&K this year so far is less than 100. By better surveillance along the LOC and improved human intelligence gathering within the state and, of course, avoiding human rights abuses, the Army had earned the respect – though grudging – of the common man. This was evident even at the height of the protests six months ago when protesters while bringing all civilian traffic to a grinding halt did not target moving Army columns.
This is not to discount various other factors, including the general fatigue of the people with militancy and also the turn of events in Pakistan, which has been brazen in its support for militants. As for as poll turn out is concerned, areas like Srinagar and Sopore, where the voter turn out, although higher than in 2002, is still dismal, should be of concern. For present, one can look forward to the new government in the state taking the democratic process forward.
Yet, the big question remains: where does one go from here? Besides the separatist elements within the state, the Kashmir issue raises the hackles of people across the LOC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and in the rest of Pakistan. One can’t discount the role of USA, whose war against terror appears to be intrinsically linked to this region. Moreover, since the intervention in diffusing the Kargil crisis, the US has been taking active interest in this region. The talk of a special US envoy for this region by Democrats only shows that the interest is unlikely to wane with the regime change in that country next month.
The book of US President-elect, Barack Obama (The Audacity of Hope) provides some insight into his view of the world beyond the US borders. Although he has resolved to gradually pullout US troops from Iraq, yet he states, “any return to isolationism – or a foreign policy approach that denies the occasional need to deploy US troops – will not work.” This approach does not of course include the state of J&K, where we have tried to institutionalize fair election systems, which is what he firmly believes in. But what we need to carefully ponder over is the fact that in the same chapter, Obama also talks about the need to go beyond the elections and to inspire and invite people to assert their freedom. “A corollary to this is that freedom means more than elections… for half of the world’s population…an election is at best a means, not an end, a starting point, not deliverance”. Although not talking specifically of Kashmir, he further states that people in such regions in the world are looking less for an “electocracy” than for the basic elements. He would like the US to ensure that international rules they are promoting enhance, rather than impede, people’s sense of material and personal security.
This obviously puts great onus on governments in various strife-ridden states. Having conducted fair and free polls in J&K, we need to ensure that people’s “basic elements”, as he put it, are taken care of. Mere dispersal of ballot boxes is not enough. The basic elements that he talks of include providing the people of the state food, shelter, electricity, basic health care, education, and ability to make their life without having to endure corruption, violence, or arbitrary power. Every person must have confidence that he will receive the full and effective protection of the Constitution and the law, both in letter and in spirit. These are areas for which we need to have a plan in place in order to win over people’s hearts and minds. In the context of Kashmir, we also have Pakistan to contend and confabulate with. Since J&K has the baggage of nearly six decades of broken promises, endemic violence, intense pain and misery, this is not easy. But since Pakistan has of late shot itself in the foot repeatedly, we have a chance to make a sincere effort by replicating Obama’s worldview in our region.
While the credit for free and fair polls must go to the government for diffusing the crisis over land transfer and the Election Commission, the salient yet persistent role of the security forces, especially the Army for bringing militancy under control in recent years, must not be discounted. Against nearly 1400 civilian casualties in 1996, the number of those who lost their life in J&K this year so far is less than 100. By better surveillance along the LOC and improved human intelligence gathering within the state and, of course, avoiding human rights abuses, the Army had earned the respect – though grudging – of the common man. This was evident even at the height of the protests six months ago when protesters while bringing all civilian traffic to a grinding halt did not target moving Army columns.
This is not to discount various other factors, including the general fatigue of the people with militancy and also the turn of events in Pakistan, which has been brazen in its support for militants. As for as poll turn out is concerned, areas like Srinagar and Sopore, where the voter turn out, although higher than in 2002, is still dismal, should be of concern. For present, one can look forward to the new government in the state taking the democratic process forward.
Yet, the big question remains: where does one go from here? Besides the separatist elements within the state, the Kashmir issue raises the hackles of people across the LOC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and in the rest of Pakistan. One can’t discount the role of USA, whose war against terror appears to be intrinsically linked to this region. Moreover, since the intervention in diffusing the Kargil crisis, the US has been taking active interest in this region. The talk of a special US envoy for this region by Democrats only shows that the interest is unlikely to wane with the regime change in that country next month.
The book of US President-elect, Barack Obama (The Audacity of Hope) provides some insight into his view of the world beyond the US borders. Although he has resolved to gradually pullout US troops from Iraq, yet he states, “any return to isolationism – or a foreign policy approach that denies the occasional need to deploy US troops – will not work.” This approach does not of course include the state of J&K, where we have tried to institutionalize fair election systems, which is what he firmly believes in. But what we need to carefully ponder over is the fact that in the same chapter, Obama also talks about the need to go beyond the elections and to inspire and invite people to assert their freedom. “A corollary to this is that freedom means more than elections… for half of the world’s population…an election is at best a means, not an end, a starting point, not deliverance”. Although not talking specifically of Kashmir, he further states that people in such regions in the world are looking less for an “electocracy” than for the basic elements. He would like the US to ensure that international rules they are promoting enhance, rather than impede, people’s sense of material and personal security.
This obviously puts great onus on governments in various strife-ridden states. Having conducted fair and free polls in J&K, we need to ensure that people’s “basic elements”, as he put it, are taken care of. Mere dispersal of ballot boxes is not enough. The basic elements that he talks of include providing the people of the state food, shelter, electricity, basic health care, education, and ability to make their life without having to endure corruption, violence, or arbitrary power. Every person must have confidence that he will receive the full and effective protection of the Constitution and the law, both in letter and in spirit. These are areas for which we need to have a plan in place in order to win over people’s hearts and minds. In the context of Kashmir, we also have Pakistan to contend and confabulate with. Since J&K has the baggage of nearly six decades of broken promises, endemic violence, intense pain and misery, this is not easy. But since Pakistan has of late shot itself in the foot repeatedly, we have a chance to make a sincere effort by replicating Obama’s worldview in our region.
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