Drift & incompetence: The Kashmir issue is a very complex problem and needs its handling from many fronts. The slaughter of more than 30,000 people during the past 11 years by militants speak highly about the collapse of law and order and incompetence of the government in power to control the situation.

First, the law and order should be drastically improved with a heavy hand by Dr Farooq Abdullah with the support of the central government. No laxity should be shown on any front.

Mr K.C. Pant’s talks with APHC, the Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief, Shabir Shah, and other militant organisations to restore peace in the valley would fail eventually as Pakistan, who is behind the trouble, is not sincere about normalising relations with India.

Secondly, the Indian Government should close its doors to negotiations with Pakistan. Until Pakistan understands the changed tough stand of India, it won’t come to compromise.

Thirdly, bilateral talks with Pakistan won’t work. The involvement of any influential country must be made for meaningful results.

D. P. JINDAL, Mandi Gobindgarh

Flush them out: Lack of a holistic strategy on the part of the Indian Government has always been visible in solving the Kashmir problem which is becoming more and more complex and intricate with the passage of time.

The ceasefire announced unilaterally by the Prime Minister took many among the security forces by surprise. Before a ceasefire, a cleansing operation is necessary. Flush the militants out first, carry out an all-out offence against them prior to showing an olive branch. A terrorist often misconstrues a peace overture as weakness. What has happened during the ceasefire is that terrorist channels have dried up because villagers are frightened.

For talks undertaken by Mr K.C. Pant to make any headway, everyone involved in the dispute, including Pakistan’s surrogates, will have to participate. Pakistan itself will have to be involved at a later stage. It is absurd of the Hurriyat leaders to say that since Delhi has “invited a crowd”, they would like to stay away. It is patent enough that the Centre has to invite a crowd and not the secessionists and their patrons in Islamabad alone.

K. M. VASHISHT, Mansa

Coordination required: A way out of the mess in Kashmir can be found only if India is bold and innovative on the issue which has been bungled for years on end.

We have already lost some 30,000 precious lives in the trouble-torn state during the last 11 years. Total coordination among the Prime Minister, the PMO and Dr Farooq Abdullah is what the time cries for.

It was indeed a misfire when the Prime Minister announced a unilateral ceasefire and also offered a dialogue with the Hurriyat leaders without consulting Dr Abdullah.

As rightly held by the writer, in their blind loyalty to Islamabad, militant groups simply ignore the people of Jammu and Ladakh. Ladakhis have already opted for a separate state. Jammu may follow suit any day unless the situation in the state is well under control. People of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir are fed up with militancy.

Like other Indians they too want to live in peace. New Delhi must deal with militancy with a firm hand. Militants of all hues have to be crushed mercilessly and ruthlessly. Nothing like human rights which are meant for humans, not for butchers.

DURGA BHARDWAJ, Solan

Hold talks: Right from the time of Pt Nehru, no succeeding P.M. has ever worked out and implemented an effective policy on Kashmir. All followed a weak-kneed policy which emboldened Pakistan to unleash militancy not only in Kashmir but also in Punjab and other parts of India.

Things have come to such a pass that the national Capital is not safe and militants have managed to sneak into sensitive areas giving a clear signal that they mean business and have the ability to operate and spread their tentacles at any place at any time.

Any peace initiative in such a situation will exhibit weakness. No nation can afford to barter away its honour and integrity in order to buy peace. The author has rightly pointed out that the proactive policy announced by the Home Minister has been hijacked by the militant organisations. There is need to have a summit with Pakistan to hammer a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem, acceptable to both sides so that innocent lives of Kashmiris as well as those of brave jawans are saved and crores of rupees being spent by both countries can be used for the welfare of the people.

K. H. JAITLEY, V. DHARA, Kulu

Get tough with them: The seven relevant points presented by the writer should be thoroughly examined and considered gravely if Mr K.C. Pant aspires to succeed in solving the decade-long Kashmir problem.

The leaders of the APHC seem to be the agents of Pakistan. If not, why do they stubbornly insist on involving Pakistan in parleys with the Centre? They are operating from our soil, indulging in nefarious activities and holding the entire state to ransom. They deserve to be deported with their bag and baggage to Pakistan. Any Indian national should have no problem in initiating a dialogue with his own government to find a solution to the knotty problem of Kashmir. So a tough stance should be adopted towards the APHC. Except it all others should be encouraged to come forward for negotiations.

The demand of the Jammuites and the Ladakhis for separate states does not seem to be out of place. Rather it appears genuine and should be given a serious thought. Above all, unity in thought, action and plan can facilitate things for bringing peace to the strife-torn state.

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

Consult the CM: Dr Farooq Abdullah should be consulted on important issues after all he has to face the people’s reaction to the Centre’s initiatives. What to talk of others, Dr Abdullah was not even consulted when the Prime Minister announced a unilateral ceasefire. Such actions don’t produce the required results when all concerned are not consulted.