The time has come for us to think pragmati-cally and realistical-ly for bringing an end to the all cycles of violence and strengthening the hands of those who are creating a space for dialogue, peace and reconciliation.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir like other nationalities and nations have a right to realise their best potential and this can happen only in an atmosphere of peace. Peace is vital for Kashmir's progress, development and economic emancipation.
While trying to exchange our wisdom and understanding to promote a forward movement, we need to realize that the most essential elements in any dialogue or process are determination and the capacity to reciprocate to positive proposals.
To me, followings come as some of the essential components in the peace process for Kashmir:
1. Bringing about a quality change in the human rights situation.
2. Ensuring positive engagement of all the actors on the ground.
3. Empowering the people of Jammu and Kashmir to become an integral component in the process.
4. Recognising the different diversities, both religious and political.
5. Involving a mechanism for building bridges in a torn society.
6. Rehabilitating the neediest - for example widows and orphans.
7. Promoting unhindered cross-border movement and allowing reunions between families living across the ceasefire line.
8. Encouraging trade facilities in order to strengthen the economy of both sides of the Jammu and Kashmir state.
The confidence building measures have so far remained cosmetic and the rigidity of bureaucracy needs to be looked into, as positive results visualised as an outcome of the implementation of the confidence building measures have remained minimal.
The process already in position has yet to flower into a comprehensive and total engagement of all the actors. Both India and Pakistan need to recognise the principle of engaging authentic voices of Kashmir. And what the modus operandi would be needs to be worked out as soon as possible.
The process follows a consensus and this process needs to be supported by the international community, which then could engage itself through its diplomatic channels either directly or indirectly.
India and Pakistan have common friends like the UK, USA and other G8 countries, and the engagement could be even at a personal level with people like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter or George Mitchell playing the role of facilitators.
The right to self-determination in any process is non-negotiable because all fundamental freedoms flow from this basic right. The dispute of Jammu and Kashmir is not a religious issue it is an internationally acknowledged political one and needs a political settlement.
One can only hope there is a growing concern, even at the people's level in India and Pakistan, to resolve it.
It can be said that the United States is cultivating a strategic relationship with India and enjoying a partnership in the war against terror with Pakistan and so there is both scope and opportunity for the United States' administration to go beyond crisis management and help build an outcome-oriented peace process for Kashmir.
The United States holds a unique position and there exists an enormous opportunity to weave a coordinated approach to Kashmir with its allies in the West and other areas of the globe, notably Russia, Japan and China. And one hopes it will pursue long term as well as short-term strategies in order to create a proactive engagement for peace in South Asia. During definitive moments of engagement the United States' role will prove crucial and critical with the pursuance of a continual low profile engagement between India and Pakistan, quiet diplomacy being of the utmost importance.
The International Community, especially P5 countries along with the European Union, should use their diplomatic channels to impress upon India and Pakistan to continue the ongoing dialogue for a peaceful conflict resolution and make it inclusive by accommodating the authentic Kashmiri voices.
In addition to this, a strategy to strengthen the process of peace building and reconciliation should be pursued with the help of civil society organs, Kashmir specific mechanisms with regard to justice and healing the wounds of history, need to be unfolded.
A supplemental intra and inter Kashmiri dialogue at every level can be used as a collateral measure to accept peace and thus strengthen the peace process.
The peace process will remain in position and be sustainable only if human rights abuses in the region are brought to an end and the inalienable right of self-determination in Kashmir is achieved.
A way forward in Kashmir ultimately lies in the hands of all the political activists who honestly desire an honourable resolution of the conflict and the ability and willingness to surrender their personal egos to a national will.
A unified approach of all concerned for overcoming the existing trauma is the call of the hour. As the great sage of the East has correctly remarked 'That nation is not fit for the tumult of tomorrow whose destiny has no today'.
The writer is Executive Director at Kashmir Centre London.