‘Lt Gen Hasnain Has Been Able To Reach Out To People Here’

Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah spoke to Outlook on the ground situation in the Valley. He also delved on the army’s new face in Kashmir. Excerpts:

With a relatively peaceful summer behind you, a great tourist season and militancy on a decline, what is your assessment of the ground situation?

There is a marked decline in militancy. It is 40 per cent lower than last year in the Valley. Having said that, we cannot assume that we are in a post-conflict scenario as yet. At yesterday’s meeting of the Unified Command, it was acknowledged that at best we are in a phase of conflict stabilisation.

The army’s stock seems to have gone up in Kashmir. By reaching out to the people and through awami sunwais, do you think the army is finally doing something right?

Yes, the army has become more sensitive to local sentiments, particularly under the present corps commander Lt Gen S.A. Hasnain, who is emphasising on respect for the local culture. Though the ‘sunwais’ are a good initiative, it needs to be remembered that the army does not resolve problems of local governance. But when it shares the feedback which it is getting with us, that does help.

Is the fact that he is the first Muslim general to be commanding the army in Kashmir after so many years making a difference on the ground?

That could be one reason. There is no denying that he is possibly the only Muslim among the seniormost generals in the army today and has been able to reach out to people here. He has, for instance, been quick to respond to incidents like the molestation of a girl by an army jawan in Pattan a few weeks ago. Prompt action was taken and tempers cooled down. But vilification of the army still continues, as is evident from the rape charge levied by a Pulwama woman recently. It was a false charge; the forensic report showed no rape. But when the army fails to bring perpetrators of some of the worst atrocities in recent years to book, it becomes its own worst enemy.

You have set up two committees to look into the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Has there been any progress on that front?

I mean to take some tangible steps on this front after September when infiltration routes will be closed and we will be able to assess the situation better. Revocation of the AFSPA from some areas will automatically follow the lifting of the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA). When a district is no longer under DAA, the AFSPA cannot be invoked there.

Is there a difference of opinion between your government and the army on its revocation ?

Not really. The army needs the legal protection of the AFSPA to operate. But we have seen that some areas like Srinagar town, Udhampur, Reasi and Jammu are not disturbed areas anymore. We are, however, very clear that if DAA, and as a consequence, the AFSPA, is lifted and the move backfires, there is nothing to stop us from reimposing these acts.