This refers to the editorial, “Calling Hurriyat's bluff” (August 25). The separatists should be mindful of the fact that the Kashmir issue is not the only central point of India's strategic and diplomatic policies. It is true that successive Governments in New Delhi have employed their economic resources primarily in pursuing a militaristic policy in Kashmir, but what has stopped Hurriyat leaders from joining the political mainstream by contesting democratically-held electionsIJ While they speak of supporting dialogue to resolve the ‘unfinished agenda of Partition' one wonders why the Hurriyat leaders don't condemn Pakistan's terrorism.
Be it the Kargil war in response to the dialogue-driven approach of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the 26/11 terror attack in response to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's efforts to mediate peace, and blatant ceasefire violations and beheading of Indian soldiers, the Hurriyat has always taken an anti-national stand.