Devil's Advocate: Time to talk to Pak, says Omar

EVERYBODY ON BOARD: Omar Abdullah says politicians must accept a realistic solution to Kashmir.

          

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Hello and welcome to Devil's Advocate. Amidst reports that the Home Minister has been holding secret talks with the Hurriyat Conference, how does the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir consider the prospect of such contacts. That is the key question Karan Thapar asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Karan Thapar: Chief Minister, there are widespread reports--first broken by The Hindu--that the Home Minister had two secret meetings with the Hurriyat leadership, and in particular with Mirwaiz Omar Farooq. If these reports are accurate, do you as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir welcome such talks?

Omar Abdullah: If they are accurate then yes we certainly do. We have been advocating a sustained dialogue between New Delhi and various shades of political opinion that is not represented by the mainstream political parties. I think the best way to carry out the initial stages of that engagement is away from the glare of the media.

I think it is unfortunate that we already have this story break on the front page of The Hindu but I hope too much damage has not been done by that.

Karan Thapar: You began by saying if they are accurate, but you ended your answer almost as if you believed that they are accurate. What is the truth? Are they happening.

Omar Abdullah: I think it would be futile to deny a story that has not been denied by anybody else. We have been advocating a dialogue; the Home Minister has recognised the need for a dialogue and he has talked about quiet diplomacy.

When you put these three points together, I think the answer should become self-evident.

Karan Thapar: I will take that as confirmation. Let me raise with you the manner in which the talks are happening. The Home Minister has emphasised silent talks away from the glare of the media, but members of the Hurriyat Conference--like Naeem Khan himself--have said quiet diplomacy could lead to deceit, transparency is a more honest and accountable way.

Do you think that there may be truth in that, given the awkwardness of the Kashmir situation?

Omar Abdullah: Certainly. If quiet diplomacy was to suddenly result in an outcome I would be suspicious as well. I think quiet diplomacy is necessary for both sides to feel each other out, to see where the lines in the sand can be drawn, what they expect from each other and a certain amount of confidence-building system.

Once that is done then the rest of the discussion will take place within the glare of all the publicity and attention that would follow, but I think for the time being a little bit of quiet won't hurt anybody.

Karan Thapar: But you are also suggesting that the second the talks begin to become substantive and there is a real possibility they could result in an outcome, then they need to become open and transparent.

Omar Abdullah: I believe so. I think it is important that the people gain confidence in the system of dialogue. I think it is also important they understand that there are no underhand deals going on, no backroom operations and no selling out.

The worst thing will be naysayers--and there will be a lot of them--getting an opportunity to say 'this was done secretly, it is a deal, it is a sellout and the interests of the people of Kashmir have not been kept in mind.’

Karan Thapar: So to guard against the naysayers undermining things, it is important that at a critical point the talks become open and public.

Omar Abdullah: I believe so.

Karan Thapar: Let me put to you what Mirwaiz Omar Farooq has said. He says that flexibility is the need of the hour, we have to be open to all new proposals on Kashmir and then he adds a hawkish attitude will get us nowhere.

More importantly he says I am not looking at a one-off solution at one go, I am looking at incremental progress. How do you assess the thinking and the position that lies behind that statement?