Elections in Kashmir (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Dec. 5, 2002 |
| Report Number |
RS21300 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
K. Alan Kronstadt, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The United States welcomed the successful October conclusion of 2002 elections in the Indian
state
of Jammu and Kashmir, where nearly half of the electorate cast ballots. The elections resulted in the
ousting of the long-dominant National Conference party, allies of the national coalition-leading
Bharatiya Janata Party, thus bolstering the credibility of the process and dampening criticism from
some quarters that the elections were flawed or "farcical." The opposition Indian National Congress
and the regional People's Democratic Party (PDP) won a combined 36 seats in the state assembly,
and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi agreed to a first-ever power-sharing coalition. PDP leader Mufti
Mohammed Sayeed has assumed the office of Chief Minister vowing to bring a "healing touch" to
state politics. His "common minimum program" includes controversial policies -- including the
freeing of jailed political prisoners -- that have been lauded by some and criticized by others. The
new government's seeming moderation has brought renewed hopes for peace in the troubled region.
The United States had urged the holding of free and fair elections to be followed by renewed
dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve their long-running dispute. India has made clear that
it will not engage such dialogue until Islamabad has put an end to cross-border infiltration of Islamic
militants into Indian-held Kashmir. Following the elections, New Delhi announced a major troop
redeployment after a tense ten-month standoff at the India-Pakistan frontier. Militant separatist
groups in both Pakistan and Kashmir have stated that the ground realities are unchanged and so their
violent campaign will continue. In apparent confirmation of these statements, numerous coordinated
attacks in November 2002 killed dozens. This report will not be updated. (1)
1. Â This is a final update and revision of a report originally
authored by Amit Gupta, Consultant in South Asian
Affairs.
