US embassy had cautioned its govt against activism in Kashmir

New Delhi, Sept 4 (PTI) The US Embassy here had
cautioned its government against any "activism" in Kashmir
saying even a hint of it can prove counter-productive in view
of India's hypersensitivity to third party involvement on the
issue, according to a leaked US diplomatic cable.
"Any hint of USG (United States Government) activism
in Kashmir, however helpful the intentions behind it, will
prove counterproductive because of the GOI's (Government of
India) hypersensitivity to third party involvement in
Kashmir," the US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, had said
in a secret cable to Washington in 2009.
The leaked cable is one of the over 250,000 such
communication released by Wikileaks this week.
"In order for the GOI's efforts to restore sustainable
peace and stability in Kashmir to succeed, its engagement with
the separatists and with the Kashmiri people must be free of
any perception of outside influence," the ambassador said.
Roemer had outlined a slew of measures that Indian
government should take to make forward movement on resolution
of Kashmir issue, particularly the internal dimensions, but
warned against making these "prescriptive" in nature.
In the list of 20 suggestions, he had said that the
Centre should ensure that dialogue with separatists achieves
results and the generous development spending in Jammu and
Kashmir should continue.
Roemer had also outlined the importance of holding
panchayat elections in the state at the earliest saying "the
record turnout in the assembly and parliamentary elections
shows that Kashmiris want to participate in the democratic
process."
He also suggested that government should release
selected prisoners who are not hardcore militants and do not
pose any serious threat but have been incarcerated for years.
"Release prisoners who have been incarcerated longer
than the court-directed sentences, discontinue the practice of
re-arresting accused militants who have been released by
courts and stop the misuse of the Public Safety Act (PSA),
which allows the government to detain anyone for two years
without trial," Roemer said in the cable. Roemer noted that over the years both the practice of
rearresting militants after courts ordering their release and
use of PSA had decreased, but said the practices had not been
eliminated.
He had also called for repeal, selectively repeal
or more judicious use of Armed Forces Special Power Act
(AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act.
Roemer had suggested that Government ease further travel
controls on separatist leaders and they be given passports and
exit permission that are less time and country specific.
Other suggestions included making the bus links across
the Line of Control (LoC) more traveller-friendly, increasing
the number of transit points and opening telephone lines
across the LoC between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) and
Jammu and Kashmir.
Encouraging separatists to participate in future
elections by providing them incentives like funding, security
and press coverage also figured in the list of suggestions.
In his comments, Roemer said, "The above list is not
intended to be prescriptive. It is provided to help Washington
understand the complicated, multi-faceted problem facing the
GOI in Kashmir as it moves forward on what is clearly a high
priority for the Prime Minister, Chidambaran and Sonia
Gandhi.
"The GOI is fully aware of these and other steps it
could take and is carefully picking and choosing what is
politically possible for it today," he added.