JAMMU, May 15 (Agencies): Ashok Bhan, Chairman of the Kashmir (Policy and Strategy) Group, has urged the Union Government to initiate a meaningful and structured dialogue with all stakeholders, including the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community, to move towards a safe & dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits back home and for lasting resolution of the Kashmir imbroglio.
Speaking at the extended executive council of the group, he observed that sustainable peace and reconciliation in Jammu & Kashmir cannot emerge merely through administrative or security-centric measures, but require political outreach, democratic engagement, constitutional sensitivity and restoration of public confidence across communities.
He stated that the continuing anger, alienation and political unrest among sections of the people in Kashmir underline the urgent necessity of rebuilding trust through dialogue and inclusive participation.
According to him, the people of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly the younger generation, seek dignity, political empowerment, economic opportunities and reassurance that democratic institutions remain responsive to their aspirations. He emphasized that silence, political vacuum and absence of sustained engagement only deepen mistrust and distance between the people and the institutions of governance.
Ashok Bhan further asserted that the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community has an existential and civilizational stake in Kashmir and therefore must be an integral participant in any meaningful dialogue process concerning the future of the region. He said the dignified, secure and sustainable return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland should form an essential component of any comprehensive political settlement.
He stressed that reconciliation in Kashmir cannot be selective and must encompass justice, security, coexistence and healing for all communities affected by decades of violence and displacement.
Citizenry leave it to the political & strategic wisdom of current Modi Govt. to heed or reject the advise of Dattatreya Hosabale the RSS stalwart that “though Pakistan is a pinprick yet the window of engagement and dialogue is to be open.”
Calling for political imagination and statesmanship, Bhan urged the Union Government to create a credible framework for engagement involving mainstream political parties, civil society groups, youth representatives, minorities, displaced persons and other stakeholders.
He maintained that durable peace in Jammu & Kashmir can only be achieved through democratic dialogue, constitutional accommodation and restoration of faith in participatory politics.
“The path to reconciliation lies not in confrontation or exclusion, but in engagement, empathy and national resolve to preserve Kashmir’s pluralistic and inclusive identity,” he said.