Open Border The Only Feasible Solution To The Kashmir Issue?

Kashmir issue has remained a massive dispute between India and Pakistan, till date which is severely affecting the lives of people of the Indian subcontinent. The Kashmir dispute has existed ever since the accession of Kashmir into India and has further given rise to extremism and terrorism in the region. Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir has suggested an open border as the best solution to the Kashmir issue.

Farooq Abdullah, the former chief minister of J&K has suggested a UK-Ireland style open border in Kashmir as the best solution to the curious case of Kashmir and the disputes arising from it. UK and Ireland share a common travel area between them which is as good as an open border.

What is an open border?

Under an open border system as shared between Ireland and the UK, citizens of the nations sharing an open border require minimum travel documents and identifications to travel through each other’s countries.

Farooq Abdullah while addressing a discussion held by South Asia Institute in London said that India and Pakistan must realise that there is no military solution to the Kashmir Issue. He said that the only roadmap forward is to have an easy border. He also added that both the nations being nuclear powers need to realise that whatever the solution be, it will be not accepted by everyone. But he said that any solution decided upon must be agreed by at least 70%-80% of people from India, Pakistan and Jammu Kashmir. He concluded by saying that hard-line measures taken by India and Pakistan will not win the hearts of the people in Kashmir.

The PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir fell owning to differences within the coalition pertaining to stances on some key issues. Jammu and Kashmir is under the governor’s rule since May 19, 2018, and the Indian Army has intensified its operations in the valley to counter terrorism in Kashmir.

In the last few days, the security forces have carried about 20 operations in the valley and have killed 9 militants. The operations have also left a few civilians injured or even dead. Earlier, during Ramadan, the Mehbooba Mufti-led state government has urged the centre to observe a ceasefire in the valley and let Eid celebrations be peaceful.

But the ceasefire failed miserably as the local militants magnified offences against the security forces. There were ambushes, grenade attacks, and rifle snatchings. Those two weeks saw more than 10 grenade attacks leaving more than 50 wounded. This tally includes 39 civilians and 17 security personnel. The PDP went really soft on the local militants and the ceasefire turned out to be a big blunder. The ceasefire ended with Shujaat Bukhari’s death. Shujaat Bukhari was the editor of Rising Kashmir and who was killed in broad daylight along with two of his bodyguards.

More News at EurAsian Times