US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI9031

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 009031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, KISL, PBTS, PHUM, OREP, IN, PK, Kashmir, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: KASHMIRI LEADERS SHARE PERSPECTIVES WITH CODEL 
BURTON 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (SBU) Kashmiri political leaders and human rights 
advocates described in differing viewpoints the problems 
facing Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and emphasized the need for 
redoubled peace efforts between India and Pakistan during a 
November 28 meeting with CODEL Burton and embassy officers. 
 
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, 
Chairman, All Party Hurriyat Conference 
--------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) The Mirwaiz remarked that a political solution to the 
J&K problem will not be found through the bilateral dialogue 
between the India and Pakistan and that the residents of the 
Valley must be included in the process.  He noted the 
Hurriyat's position that the future entity of Kashmir must 
comprise the land which was historically J&K, not the one 
reflected by current borders.  Mirwaiz stated that the 
current process is too slow and questioned the seriousness of 
both India and Pakistan, theorizing that the two governments 
were "just biding time" and not engaging in a genuine 
dialogue.  The opening of the bus route across the line of 
control (LoC) was an important confidence building measure 
(CBM), observed Mirwaiz, but he expressed disappointment that 
no other CBMs have since been implemented. 
 
3.  (C) Acknowledging that human rights abuses by security 
forces in the Valley have decreased over the last three 
years, Mirwaiz asserted that the GOI should decrease troop 
levels in order to reduce tensions.  Commenting that "with 
only 3,000 to 5,000 militants in the region, the GOI does not 
need hundreds of thousands of troops to maintain control," 
Mirwaiz asserted that the GOI should make the necessary 
changes on the ground to facilitate a peaceful solution. 
Mirwaiz suggested that a military solution is not attainable, 
and the GOI and GOP must change their historical stances in 
order to find a political resolution to the problem. 
 
Omar Abdullah, 
President, National Conference and Member of Parliament 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
4.  (C) Abdullah, who represents Srinagar in the Lok Sabha, 
acknowledged that the National Conference and the Hurriyat 
differ on how to solve the J&K issue.  He remarked that the 
Hurriyat seeks a solution reflecting pre-1947 borders, while 
the National Conference wants a resolution in line with the 
"existing special relationship J&K has with India" and in 
accordance with the Indian Constitution.  However, he agreed 
with Mirwaiz that military force would not succeed and that 
India and Pakistan must move away from their stated 
positions.  According to Abdullah, Islamabad has gone farther 
than Delhi in recent years in changing their stance, and it 
is now time for the Indian Prime Minister to start thinking 
"outside the box."  He proffered that each time there is a 
new proposal, the MEA is the first to "shoot it down," 
demonstrating that the GOI is quite content with the status 
quo.  He also discounted the claims that the GOI has a road 
map for J&K, commenting that, as the leader of the party 
dedicated to finding a solution within the Indian 
constitution, he should be shown such a plan were it to 
exist. 
 
5.  (C) Abdullah commented that improvements often listed by 
J&K watchers, such as holding sporting and cultural events, 
have not really benefited the people in the Valley.  The 
recent earthquake has forced the hand of the Indian and 
Pakistani governments, Abdullah observed, but he will 
withhold judgment until concrete results are achieved.  He 
concluded that "a solution will not be found because India 
and Pakistan want a solution, it will be because the rest of 
the world will demand it." 
 
Madhu Kishwar, 
Center for the Study of Developing Society 
------------------------------------------ 
 
6.  (C) Kishwar, a well-known human rights activist, noted 
that the "Kashmir problem" affects many more people than just 
Kashmiris, and that the region is multi-ethnic and 
multi-cultural.  Indicating that many of the groups, such as 
the Pahari, Bakkarwals, Gujjars, Buddhists and Pandits, have 
different opinions on the future status of J&K, she asserted 
that a solution to the conflict in the Valley must include 
their sentiments.  A problem that also needs to be overcome 
is the lack of credibility of local politicians, Kishwar 
stated.  She noted that many politicians change their 
position depending on their audience, and the electorate does 
not trust them to tell the truth.  She concluded that in 
order to strengthen the peace process, it is important not to 
discount the many small improvements that have taken place. 
Highlighting human rights improvements since 2004, such as 
increased voter turnout and a decrease in military abuses, 
she suggested that the parties involved analyze these small 
successes and find a way to translate them to the larger 
picture. 
 
Dr. Ajay Chrungoo, 
Chairman, Pannun Kashmir 
------------------------ 
 
7.  (C) Dr. Chrungoo, a Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu), argued that 
when the other participants talk of "Kashmiris," they do not 
include Pandits in this group and asserted that the first 
expression of separatist violence was the ethnic cleansing of 
Pandits from the Valley in 1989.  He warned that if these 
atrocities were not addressed and the Pandits' concerns 
heard, there would continue to be problems in the region. 
Chrungoo reiterated Delhi-based analyst Radha Kumar's call to 
include all of the ethnic and religious groups in the 
conflict resolution process.  He warned that the radical 
Muslim element of the separatist movement is by far the most 
dangerous, and it is now targeting moderate Muslims. 
Discounting claims that the 2004 election was an important 
step, he commented that an election held under the threat of 
violence, with over 200 people killed, cannot be considered 
free and fair.  Chrungoo concluded that the politics of the 
Kashmir Valley have been exclusionary (of Hindus, Shias and 
Sikhs), and if this trend continues it will validate 
extremism and result in another "Afghanistan." 
 
Wajahat Habibullah, 
Chief Information Commissioner of India 
--------------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) Mr. Habibullah, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) 
during the early 1990s, highlighted that the meeting of this 
diverse group in Delhi to discuss openly the issue was 
significant in itself as a sign of India's and J&K's 
democracy.  He noted that such discussions have also occurred 
in Kashmir, including a public event in Srinagar between Omar 
Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman 
Yasin Malik.  Habibullah remarked that there are many 
positive developments occurring in the Valley.  "The fact 
that there is a working government is notable considering, 
until recently, there was an open insurgency, which caused 
the collapse of the administration and the exodus of the 
Pandits," he asserted.  Habibullah argued for free and full 
democracy in order to solve the Valley's woes, noting that 
with only 20 percent participation in the Valley during the 
last election, it had yet to occur fully. 
 
Dr. Radha Kumar, 
Delhi Policy Group 
------------------ 
 
9.  (C) Kumar signaled that the recent earthquake could 
create an "enormous opportunity" for the adoption of more 
CBMs between India and Pakistan.  She noted that relief 
efforts could develop greater ties between governments, civil 
society and the Valley residents, resulting in a more genuine 
discussion of the problem.  She noted that there are ongoing 
talks regarding the devolution of power, which she does not 
see on the "other side of the border."  She warned that 
radical terrorist groups have carried out extensive 
post-disaster work, giving a "shot in the arm" to the 
militants, and that we need to double our efforts to move the 
democratization process forward. 
 
Representative Dan Burton 
------------------------- 
 
10.  (C)  Thanking the participates for the informative 
discussion, Rep. Burton noted that, as a long-time follower 
of the Kashmir issue, he intended to raise their points in 
upcoming meetings with PM Singh and President Musharaff. 
 
11. (U) This cable has been cleared by Congressman Dan Burton. 
MULFORD