Kashmir ‘quiet diplomacy’ under way: Chidambaram

http://http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\10\23\story_23-10-2009_pg1_1


New Delhi seeking ‘unique, honourable solution’ to dispute
* India not afraid of talking to anybody
* Kashmir media, separatists, political parties praise Chidambaram’s commitment

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: The Indian government is working on “quiet diplomacy” as part of efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue, and “this will only be made public after the desired results are achieved”, Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram has said.

“There will be a unique, honourable and acceptable solution to the problem in Jammu and Kashmir. We are working on it,” Chidambaram told reporters last week on the sidelines of the All India Editors’ Conference in Srinagar.

Chidambaram also said that the Indian government was not afraid of talking to anyone – an apparent reference to Pakistan.

In a commitment praised by the local media, political parties and separatists – the minister said the “separatist voice will be heard to work for an honourable solution to the problem”.

Popular Srinagar daily Greater Kashmir described Chidambaram as “a different leader”. “His visit was different than routine ones,” said an editorial in the newspaper. “There were no thunderous threats in his speeches for the dissenting political voices in the state, instead they cascaded with rapprochements and reconciliation ... he was right in stating that any solution that fails to recognise the uniqueness of the problem will not work.”

Urdu daily Srinagar Times wrote that Chidambaram was “sincere and iconoclastic in his approach for not ‘carrying any previous baggage’ and denying to get embroiled in the polemics of Atoot Ang”.

Among other newspapers, even a right-wing Jammu-based newspaper – The Excelsior – branded Chidambaram “one of the better Home Ministers of the country” because “he makes efforts to first understand and then clearly address an issue”.