The insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir began in 1989 and has ebbed and flowed in the intervening years. In 2018, the death toll for militants and security forces in Kashmir touched the highest point in a decade, according to official figures, with more than 400 killed. The state of J&K is now under President’s rule owing to the failure of the coalition government, thereby wiping out of the people’s mandate. The absence of any meaningful political process to address Kashmiri grievances points to a more violent situation in the coming years.

Outrage over the Shopian rape incident, invocation of collective conscience during Afzal Guru’s execution, the capture of the newsrooms in Delhi, the sanctimonious politics of rescue during the September 2014 floods, coalition government in 2015, pellet-gun-related mass blinding during the Burhan Wani agitation were some of the major provocations in last decade that pushed Kashmiris towards a suicidal upsurge against the Indian state. Thus, there is a shrinking democratic space and increased violence in the J&K.

There is a need for sustained and coordinated efforts of public outreach involving all the key stakeholders.

State:

• Non-violent and democratic methods to achieve political aspirations.
• The way out of the deadlock in Kashmir is to strengthen democracy.
• Empowerment of Local Governments which involves people at the grassroots level.
• Setting aside of the mutual fears of the people of Jammu and of Kashmir and bringing the people of Ladakh into this ambit as well.
• Socio economic development through various governmental schemes.
• Conducting recruitment rallies to employ the youth, who are in a different state of mind.

Security Forces:

• While the army’s Operation Sadbhavna (a military civic action initiative of 20 years) has helped in extending marginal outreach, the lack of mass engagement has prevented the development of any perception change and the creation of alternative narratives to counter the propaganda from Pakistan and the separatists.
• Direct outreach: conduct of public meetings or “awami sunwais” in the field in areas where the reach of the administration had become marginal. Example: Awami Sunwai’s of the past.
• Maximum opportunity to the common citizens to speak, criticise and complain, so they can realise that there are enough people willing to listen rather than talk down to the common Kashmiri.
• Need to engage the security personnel especially army and CRPF for public outreach and conduct of public meetings and include the politicians and the public officials along with.

Religious heads:

• Involvement of local clergies who has substantial hold on the local populace and seek its cooperation in messaging the youth and others on the uniqueness of the Indian system.
• Exploitation of social media, as much as the countering of online propaganda of radicalisation.

Non-State Actors:

• The other major determinant is J&K is the part of Non-State Actors like Separatists, Neighbouring Pakistan and the state sponsored terrorists.
• They have a considerable hold on the people and their opinions.
• Engaging the non-state actors through interlocutors, Tier-2 diplomacy should help alleviate the fears and misunderstandings that have cropped up.

Media:

• Media described as the fourth pillar of democracy plays a very vital role.
• They are responsible for reporting of the incidents in a true and unvitiated manner. However, the political patronage and ownership by big media houses has made more one sided views.
• With internet on the surge and ease of access of information at tips, they help in shaping the views and opinions of people.
• Media should be ethical and democratic in its approach. It should spread the message of peace and harmony across people.

Conclusion:

 The spirit of accommodation and tolerance should be inculcated and must be practiced from lowest to top echelons of State to alleviate the mistrust of people in latter. Isolated efforts by different organisations prevent the emergence of a cogent strategy. As our ex-PM Vajpayee had once said: ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, Kashmiriyat’, which means humanity, peace, and keeping the sanctity of the people is the foundation for peace in J&K.