Ever since the false encounters causing the deaths of Abdur Rehman Padder (a carpenter), Nazir Ahmed Deka (a perfume seller), Ghulam Nabi Wani (a vendor at Lal Chowk), Showkat Ahmad Kataria (an imam) and several others became public knowledge, Kashmiris have been seething with anger. The issue of the disappearances of thousands has suddenly come into mainstream discourse. The issue has generated heat not only on the streets of the Valley but also on the floor of the legislature. And yet the entire furore has remained limited to Kashmir. The issue did not lead to a national political campaign for justice in J&K. Even the national media did not do much to put the issue before the public. The reasons for this is not difficult to find. The issue has become a casualty of the widespread perception that debating human rights in Kashmir would go against India’s national interests. National interest has always been pitted against human rights.

That this approach needs to be changed was acknowledged by the PM himself. Manmohan Singh made a commitment while addressing Kashmiris in Srinagar that there would be zero tolerance for human rights violations. The tenor of his commitment was in tune with the tenor of the peace process, which has brought about a major shift in the country’s political orientation to the Kashmir issue. Some important changes in the political discourse are worth noting. First, the very notion of ‘national interest’ has undergone a change mainly owing to a shift in the relationship between India and Pakistan. Both countries no longer see each other in terms of a conflictual relationship. The ongoing dialogue has taken care of some of the concerns that India had vis-a-vis Pakistan with regard to Kashmir. A consensus has emerged that while settling them, the sovereignty of the two countries will not be compromised and the borders will not be redrawn. This has toned down the earlier emphasis on securing territory.

... contd.