THE Centre’s submission in the Supreme Court that the Union Territory Status to Jammu and Kashmir is not a permanent arrangement and that it would restore statehood to the region at an appropriate time, indicates that the decision would involve consideration of various aspects of the geopolitical situation in the sensitive area. For, in addition to talking about the possible restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre has indicated that the Union Territory status to Ladakh will remain in place for some time, though it has refrained from specifying the time limit. Obviously, the decision has multiple angles -- hidden or open -- that the Government will consider in depth before taking the step. The most critical angles of the overall Kashmir situation involve security -- internal and external -- issues. Outwardly, the situation may suggest involvement of only one international facet, Pakistan. But a deeper analysis will suggest involvement of strategic considerations because of the all-weather friendship Pakistan has with China, thanks to the angle of eastern Ladakh in particular. Armed by legal and constitutional arrangements that empower the Government through the Union Territory status, the Centre appears ready to take its own time to decide the format administration and governance of Ladakh.

 

When he met the leaders of political parties from Kashmir soon after the abrogation of Special Status to Kashmir, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi had given an unequivocal assurance that J&K would be given back its statehood as soon as the situation permitted. He has also promised holding of elections at the first clear opportunity. It is clear, thus, that the Centre has an open mind on the issue, but would take its own time to assess and analyse the actual situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir before making up its mind finally. In other words, the assurance of the Centre to the five-judge bench of the honourable Supreme Court has multiple provisos that it cannot define or bring into public domain at this stage. The honourable Supreme Court’s concern is obvious, of course. As it considers a plea before it, it must have all doubts cleared as regards different aspects of the Kashmir situation. Its another concern -- probably hidden from an open discourse -- is that the political leadership of the country must not stretch the current condition endlessly. Hence its efforts to extract an assurance from the Centre about its whatever intentions.

 

The Centre has promised to make a detailed statement in the Supreme Court later, but promised that the Union Territory status to J&K is not permanent. This is good enough -- and has been so all these years. The Modi Government has made it clear right from the beginning that its Kashmir policy has a strong angle of national unity and integrity -- which is closely linked to the country’s strategic security as well. This aspect lends the Government a natural responsibility and authority to take its own time to make up its mind over the issue. In that domain, nobody can ever try to influence the Government’s decision through socio-political build up. When the honourable Supreme Court seeks to know details of a question in national interest, it wants to ensure that the Government does not use the concept of extra-mural authority to dodge an issue or hide certain of its intentions from the nation. In response to the queries by the honourable Supreme Court, the Centre has acted with a great sense of responsibility. For, Kashmir is not just a region of the Union of India, but also occupies a critical position in the national strategic thinking. Those who wish to add a political shade to the issue must realise this.