On the Centre's request, the court has ordered to defer hearing on petitions against Article 35A.
What is the case?
Article 35A primarily deals with the ‘permanent residents’ of J&K and their special rights and privileges in the State. Click here to know more on Art 35A.
The government has recently appointed an interlocutor to facilitate talks in Kashmir which is in a political turmoil in recent months.
The interlocutor on behalf of the government will hold talks with various representatives of the region.
In this line, the Centre said that the court should adjourn the hearing on petitions against Article 35A, as it would affect the dialogue process.
Accordingly the court has ordered to defer hearing on the issue for a period of 12 weeks.
What are the challenges in the peace process?
Improving the strained relations between the central government and the Kashmiris is one of the foremost challenges.
Sovereignty - This is because, Kashmir is deeply embedded in its idea of territorial integrity and sovereignty for long.
The facilitator will have to genuinely address the political aspirations of those who seek an independent Kashmir.
This includes a variety of pro-secessionist groups, including the Hurriyat and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
Communal - The highly communal and polarised nature of the conflict further complicates the peace process.
A suspicious attitude prevails between the aspirations of Kashmiri Muslims and the perceivably Hindu nationalist, anti-minority rhetoric of the present government.
Conversely, Kashmiri Hindus seek to push their interests having been driven away from the valley during the 1990s Islamist insurgency.
All these require the interlocutor to maintain a fair balance between opposing religious groups.
Radicalisation - The al-Qaeda and IS groups are suspectedly increasing their presence in the Kashmir region.
A possible allegiance of Kashmiri fighters to the Islamic State and the related national security concerns is an added pressure for the peace talks.
Pakistan - Even if efforts to influence Kashmiris yield a positive outcome internally, talks with Pakistan still remain on the agenda.
Several bilateral and diplomatic channels already exist between the two countries.
But the conflict still remains unresolved with both states unwilling to compromise their respective territorial positions on Kashmir.
Any terrorist attack or a border crisis with Pakistan and the slightest provocation might derail chances for the Kashmir dialogue.
What lies ahead?
The appointment of an interlocutor signals a shift from reliance on military solutions to that of diplomacy.
However it should go beyond a symbolic gesture and seriously intend on engaging with the Kashmiris.
The interlocutor should function beyond a mere representative of the primary political interests of the Centre.
The facilitator of dialogue will also have to consider de-radicalisation efforts and develop a series of counter-terrorism measures.
A clear strategy with well-articulated goals and objectives on the Kashmir issue is a prerequisite for the success of the peace process.
