'Once the violence is contained, the politicians must play their role, but unfortunately that is not happening.'
India and Pakistan's decision to carry on with the dialogue process drew mixed response in Kashmir on Friday with mainstream parties welcoming it and separatists insisting that the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting was "inconclusive" without the participation of Kashmiris.
'The decision of August will have to be taken back. This is our resolve. When it will happen, how it will happen, the judge of our case are the people of this country.'
One of the most wanted terrorist, Mudasir Pandit, and a Pakistani ultra were among the three terrorist killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in the Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.
'When those who took oath in the name of the Indian Constitution are not acceptable, where do the other Kashmiris stand?'
What the ceasefire does is to show the supporters of violence in the Kashmir valley an alternative to militancy, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
'It is not something that is going to unfold in the next few weeks or even the next few months.' 'This process will continue for some time. And that's how it should be.' 'If the politicians are coming on board, then that is a welcome step.'
'The return of violence in Kashmir justifies government precautions, but risk has to be taken.' 'We need to act and ensure that risk is converted to gain through direct interaction with Kashmir's public,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).
'The current government must act sooner rather than later,' asserts Vivek Gumaste.
German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner has issues an impassioned plea to seek the support of Kashmiris for 'Ehsaas-e-Kashmir', a music concert featuring world renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta in Srinagar.
United States Congressman Dan Burton, Indiana Republican and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who was in the 1980s and 1990s India's bete-noire on Capitol Hill, after a considerable hiatus when he took a sabbatical against castigating India, seems to have had a relapse, this time at the urging of the Kashmiri American Council and the pro-Pakistan lobby.
"This move will strengthen the unity of the country, which is the requirement of the hour," says Charu Wali Khanna.
The editorial said, "Such posturing will only doom Kashmir to a deadly spiral, where more brutal military tactics will feed more despair and more militancy".
'It will be a long time before we will see the likes of Vajpayee again.'
The solution to the Kashmir problem does not lie in India speaking to Pakistan; it does not lie in the Indian government speaking to the separatists; it lies in the Kashmiris talking to their inner selves. They need to trace their history to include their rich cultural heritage of Hindu Saivism and Sufi mysticism. Only then will Kashmiris be at peace with themselves, says Vivek Gumaste.
'It is a matter of regret that the BJP and PDP refused to take the Pandits aboard in this government.' 'The present government is following a policy of soft secessionism.'
When Omar Abdullah took his first plunge into Kashmir politics in 1998, the odds were stacked heavily against him. Separatists were at their peak and the National Conference, founded by his grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah, almost 50 years ago, was seen as a stooge of New Delhi.
While the government interlocutor for J&K may be tasked with holding talks with 'all stakeholders', the central government is singing a very different tune in the Supreme Court, Aditi Phadnis points out.
Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded immediate arrest of separatist leaders who had waved Pakistani flags during a rally in Srinagar, saying it was not satisfied with the "mere registration" of a police case against them.
'A couple of Pulwamas will bring the two nations to war and it will be limited to J&K itself.'
Asif Ali Zardari's remarks that the Kashmir issue should be put on the backburner drew mixed reactions on Monday with the ruling Congress-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir saying it was positive but separatist leaders voiced their dismay. Zardari had said that India and Pakistan should set aside the Ksahmir issue to focus on other key issues.
"What do they want us to do? They label us as a threat to peace and cage, confine and gag us. So how can we be of help?" said Mirwaiz.
Kashmiris hope that India and Pakistan can find a lasting solution to what many call the Kashmir 'problem'.
For a Valley on the boil, there is ample proof that New Delhi simply does not care.
Former Research and Analysis Wing chief AS Dulat has claimed that everybody in Kashmir makes money off the unstable situation in the region, alleging that it is 'in their DNA'.
'Despite Modi's high-flown rhetoric about good-neighbourly relationships in South Asia, he lacks a road map how to proceed -- be it with Bangladesh or with Sri Lanka and Pakistan... But a deeper question arises here: Did he duck on his own accord or under the diktat from the RSS, asks Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The festering dispute over the accession of Jammu and Kashmir stands out as one of the world's most volatile fault lines that divides regions, countries, societies, communities and ethnic groups, notes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs, on Sheikh Abdullah's 39th death anniversary.
After landslide victories in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the BJP is hoping to crest the tide in Jammu and Kashmir, confident of both Hindu and Muslim votes
Malik said the step will enable good governance, bring self-reliance and employment opportunities to people Jammu and Kashmir and most importantly the feeling of unity and equality with the rest of the country.
The meeting comes ahead of Dr Singh's meeting with Musharraf to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The chief said that the reason for the fall is because of the combined efforts of NIA, state police and security forces.
The escalating situation in the Kashmir valley is the vanguard actions of global jihad, says Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd). And in this battle, he believes, perception management operations will be just important as operations to neutralise the terrorists.
'The last time it tried to push India towards a solution was at Kargil in 1999, when Pakistan's survival itself came into question and an elected prime minister had to beg the US to stop India from inflicting another defeat on the country.'
'Yaseen Malik has spoken the truth. I worked as a senior office-bearer of JKLF till 1994 and I have interacted with cadres trained in his camp in Ternool," said the man who had hijacked an Indian Airlines plane in 1971.
In a surprise move on Wednesday, Hurriyat chairman Moulavi Abbas Ansari quit and handed over charge to the Mirwaiz.
The delegation was told that the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly in 2000 should be implemented.
The Indian agenda for the talks has put extra stress on the "most important" issue of breach of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir
The latest developments from the violence-hit valley.
Hurriyat's Mirwaiz said Mufti has exposed his game plan by rushing to New Delhi to sort out the matter.
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