LoC as Land of Contact

One could start with the first finger: the Jammu-Sialkot route. It has great economic potential, especially for the Jammu region, although politically and culturally it may be relatively less relevant. However, the business community — including the Jammu Chambers of Commerce and Industry — ardently supports the opening of this route.

The second finger is the recently opened Poonch-Rawlakot road. Its economic potential is less obvious, but the political and cultural fall-out of opening this route are enormous. While the divided families will undoubtedly get the maximum benefit, this road could also be used to attract students from the PoK into the Jammu region. In Rajouri, the Baba Ghulam Shah University has already been established and its courses include the MBA.

The third finger, the middle one, is important for cultural, economic and political reasons. Unfortunately, the Indian government has seen this route only in symbolic terms. Opening it will yield rich dividends. For starters, it will bring the two Kashmirs together. Proposals such as self-rule, autonomy, self-governance and joint management will acquire new meaning if the leadership from both Kashmirs is allowed to interact. There is a great deal we do not know. What, for instance, is the level of autonomy that the other Kashmir enjoys? What is the status of Northern Areas in these proposals? These are issues that will have far-reaching political implications if political leaders from both sides — separatists or otherwise — are allowed to meet each other. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s recent visit to Pakistan provided a glimpse of the opportunity inherent in such a move.

Besides the political dividends, the economic aspect is something the Indian government is reluctant to consider, despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s promises. The apple growers of Sopore, the home town of hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, are the most ardent supporters of opening this route. Let us remember, Sopore polled the least in the 2002 election and even today it is predominantly anti-Indian in its mood. The political dividends of opening this route for economic interaction are enormous. It will undermine the hawks.

The fourth finger is the Kargil-Skardu route; the entire Ladakh region, in particular Kargil, could be used as a base to reach China and Central Asia via Gilgit. While there have been ample discussions on the first three routes, the opening of this sector has not acquired the attention it deserves. While this will ultimately address the concerns of the divided families of Kargil, the economic potential to the entire Ladakh region in opening this route will be tremendous. Besides being a part of the old Silk route, this region has the potential to attract tourism.

With a new bus route being opened between Gilgit and Kasghgar, linking Sinkiang province with the Northern Areas, this route will hook up China from two sides with its base in Ladakh. The point raised by an analyst from the Northern Areas will also underline the political benefits of opening this route: why should the people of Gilgit-Baltistan suffer for Indo-Pak animosity over Kashmir?

The last finger flows towards the northeast from Leh to Tibet — most popularly referred to as the Mansarovar route. In early January 2006, a group came all the way from Ladakh to Jammu to organise a procession on the need to reopen this route. While the primary concern is more economic, in terms of improving pilgrim traffic, the cultural and strategic reach of opening this route should also be explored. With Nathula already opened, India should extend its network into China, this time from Ladakh.

India should see the three regions of J&K not as an end but a means to reach out to the outside world. Instead of thinking in terms of an LoC in J&K, the region should come to be seen as a land of contact.

The writer is visiting Fellow, Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Jammu, and assistant director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Delhi