'Kashmiris Not Necessarily For Pak'

How would you like to see New Delhi manage the situation?

There seems to be no policy in New Delhi. You are right—they want to manage and not address the situation. India is a responsible power and now, with the US nuclear deal, it is seen as a big power. But with power you also have responsibility. You can’t shun responsibility on an issue like Kashmir. It is so sad that Kashmir is judged by people in India from a Pakistan perspective.

Has there been any attempt at a solution from the Manmohan Singh government?

This government has done nothing. The Vajpayee government was keen to move forward. Vajpayee had a personal sort of interest in trying to see that there is movement in the (peace) process. With the Congress the problem is that they still have a colonial bent of mind. They only see Kashmir as a live issue when a bomb goes off or people die in firing. And now that elections are due in India, parties there are trying to play politics in the name of Kashmir. The BJP in the name of religion and Congress in the name of national security.

Are you pro-Pakistan? Many slogans raised (in the rallies and protest marches) were for Pakistan and an Islamic state.

Please look at the mood of the people. When someone on the street here says Pakistan or Nizam-e-Mustafa, what are they trying to convey? What he (the Kashmiri) is saying is that he rejects the present system. This does not necessarily mean he would choose Pakistan. People here know what has been happening within Pakistan. They are disappointed in what has become of the political system there. There is also a feeling that Pakistan has lost interest in Kashmir. Some people come and complain to me that PTV or the Pakistan media is not covering the events in Kashmir prominently.

Many slogans are also raised in support of a militant group like the Lashkar...

(Laughs) This is to agitate the Indians. Militancy is not so strong now, though it might be alive. The Lashkar slogan is about a sentiment. It is wrong to say that Kashmir was always about militancy.

Are you scared by the force of this movement?

I am scared in a sense that I know this has to be controlled. The other night, people were on the streets. There were fears that anyone can attack in the dark. A spontaneous movement is at times hard to channel.

How do you respond to Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s dramatic proclamation of his own solitary leadership?

This is a mass movement, and plainly not driven by one leader. I don’t know what was going through his mind when he made that declaration.

Who is keeping in touch with you from New Delhi?

No one at all. I have only been contacted by the local district collector who came yesterday to talk about the UN march. Of course I will talk if someone comes as doors cannot be closed. No home ministry official, no envoy from Delhi, I promise. Maybe they will now speak to Geelani saab as he has said that he is the single leader of Kashmir (laughs).

Would you have ever considered taking part in an election?

Ultimately, yes. But you can’t expect the Hurriyat to go for elections with nothing to offer if none of our demands are met.

Would a dialogue help now?

Manmohan Singh is a nice person, but as a leader he has failed. He has nothing to offer the people of Kashmir. I don’t think anything will happen till the general elections are over.