Bashir Ahmad Khan
History is testimony to the facts that the bonhomie is the only solution to ensure progress and development of any nation. The confrontations and staying divided would in no way help in resolving the issues and ensure the progress and development of the nation.
The dialogue is the only feasible solution to resolve the issues, address the grievances and concerns of the people, hailing from any part of the land.
But, for beginning with a dialogue, there is a need to have a peaceful atmosphere all around so that the process wouldn’t come to a grinding halt and the concerns and issues will not be rejected.
There is no doubt that the majority of the people living in Jammu and Kashmir are peace lovers and want it to prevail in the Union Territory so that the bullets and loud bangs of explosions would come to an end and give development a way to exist in Jammu and Kashmir.
If we go back to some years, the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee started an initiative of holding dialogue with Pakistan as well as others including separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative was a well-thought out plan to allow peace to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the move was spoiled after some time as the militancy accelerated in the Union Territory and thus put the initiative at halt.
From the last several years, the Indian side has been trying to follow the agreement of ceasefire with the neighboring country, Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC), which has been violated many times by the other side, leaving many people including soldiers and civilians dead.
Such is the situation at the LoC that the people have finally started constructing underground bunkers to protect their lives during the skirmishes.
After many violations last year as well, the Indian and Pakistani armies on February 25 announced that they would cease firing across the LoC while recommitting themselves to a 2003 ceasefire agreement, bringing a cheer among the people especially to those living close to the LoC.
The ceasefire pact earlier this year was also the outcome of the serious deliberations between the armies of two neighboring countries, which has led to the prevention of losses and lives to the people. This decision is an example that even an enmity can also be eradicated through a proper dialogue process.
It is worthwhile to mention here that after the fresh ceasefire pact post dialogue process, the situation has improved to a large extent as eerie calm is prevailing along the LoC areas and thus giving an impression of peace among the border dwellers.
The ceasefire should act as an example that all the other outstanding issues can be resolved through dialogue. Moreover, the dialogue always acts in a way that the people on both sides are benefitted and results in a better life.
This peace has to prevail for a larger cause as it is the only solution that can compel the leadership to start a dialogue process for the resolution of issues pertaining to the people.
Taking the example of the ceasefire pact after deliberations, the LoCs here have once again witnessed fat weddings, special occasions, which were otherwise missing along the borders.
This dialogue has a great significance as once the concerns and issues are taken care of, it would certainly help in building confidence amongst the people and thus the progress and development can go at the same time without any hindrance.
One cannot even think of building confidence until and unless there is bonhomie between the leadership and the people. The friendly ties always bring a fruit within the family as well as in the nation.
The dialogue is the only process through which every section of the society can be heard. This dialogue doesn’t only help in hearing the pleas and the grievances, but it also gives an opportunity for the interaction, which brings the two parties closer and helps in knowing each other properly.
The confidence can only be built once the people are taken on board and their issues and grievances are taken care of through a proper dialogue process. It is proven that only dialogue has the ability to end the enmity and resolve the long pending issues and therefore when the issues are resolved, the trust and confidence would be gained in an eased manner.
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