In case you forgot, let me joggle your memory about something relevant.
Our government is involved in a peace process (an irreversible one..remember?) with an arch enemy - Pakistan. Yes, we're still "at it". A visit by our PM to Pakistan for talks is due and has long been so. Reports suggest he might not do so this year given the situation over there.
Representatives of both sides have held four rounds of talks/discussions so far. The last one was held in January in Islamabad. At the end of each round the same hackneyed statement emerges "Talks were held in a friendly atmosphere..both sides have agreed in principle to continue discussing..the dates for the next round of talk will be finalised soon"
In case you forgot, since the peace process began in January 2004 leave alone that of the proprietorship of the valley, even comparatively smaller bones of contention don't appear close to resolution.
Siachen where hundreds of our Jawans and theirs brave the sub zero climate to guard their parts of a lifeless barren piece of frozen water! Sustaining such numbers in these altitudes costs a fortune; substantial amounts of public money is needlessly spent and continues to be spent as defence allocation keeps increasing with each passing year (a 11% increase compared to last year).
Sir Creek - one where both sides can't seem to agree to a common map even. Both countries tussle like all the gas reserves of the world are hidden beneath the creek. Even the joint survey which was recently concluded could not produce a breakthrough during last month's talks.
Transfer of prisoners - some who have unknowingly strayed across the border or who are mistaken for spies still languish in jails. Every round of talks raises expectations of the relatives of those prisoners and at the end of it disappoints them.
The sole exception being the Baglihar dam which wasn't really mutually solved, mind you. Both sides agreed to the UN appointed arbitrator's verdict.
Our Jawans of the army,upwards of 5 lakh in the valley alone,and paramilitary still patrol the LOC day in and day out and continue combing the streets of Kashmier to flush out insurgents/freedom fighters/whatever you call them. Life hasn't gotten any easier for them since the 6th of Januray 2004 has it? The always-in-the-news,never ending army excesses and human rights abuses are a direct fallout of the prolonged and forced stay of our Jawans in the valley coupled with the sweeping powers it is provided with by the dreaded AFSPA.
As for the valley, President Musharraf's four point formula - which experts see as a climb down or softening of Pakistan's stand on Kashmier, has faded from public memory. My prediction is that the UPA will drag its feet as long as it can so long as the 2009 Lok Sabha elections are some time away and when the elections start nearing, it (UPA)will speed up the negotiations with the other side and also wax about how it has succeeded in the peace process with Pak in its election campaigns. Acting on expected lines, some sections of our media too are helping the govt. find reasons to be unhappy with Pakistan. An exercise in brain washing is proceeding and has been for a while now, not just in demonising Pakistan but also China. It is not for no reason that the Pakistanis (government officials as well as media) view Indian press as biased and pro-establishment. It seems to be in our govt's interests to buy time and do as little as it can do stall the stagnating peace process. Urgency will only kick in once the summer of 2009 approaches.
Till then though, we shall continue to "do the rounds"
