THE Indians would have to do a lot more than merely admit that they have to find a political solution of Kashmir, since they have failed to put an end to the acts of violence taking place in the part of Kashmir they illegally occupy. The admission has to be taken to its logical conclusion: letting the people of Kashmir exercise their right of self-determination, as they had expressly agreed at the United Nations. But the Indian leaders urge to hold on to the territory holds them back from granting the people the choice to decide about their future since they very well know the outcome. Therefore, they keep groping for a 'political solution within the countrys Constitution. Indian Home Minister Chidambaram is not the first in recent days to talk in terms of a solution through contact with Kashmiris, without making any reference to negotiations with Islamabad. Speaking at a conference at New Delhi, he held out the assurance that Kashmiris would be consulted and soon a way would be found for a political solution of their grievances. However, as expected, he laced his admission of not being able to control the protesting crowds, growing by the way, against Indian rule, with New Delhis standard myth of cross border interference. As he maintained that it had continued unabated, it was obvious that he was not thinking in terms of reviving the stalled dialogue with Pakistan. Earlier last month, Indian Army Chief Gen V. K. Singh had twice registered his frustration with the public, through the media bypassing the political leadership, at the politicians failure to build on the gains his security forces had made in Kashmir. The word, gains, reveals the brutal bent of his mind since the only tangible result of their aggressive approach is the increasing death toll among the Kashmiri youth and a grieving population, most tellingly conveyed to the world through news photographs. The scenario would only lead to the path of continued freedom struggle and not solution. History books would inevitably point a finger at Pundit Nehru, when they relate the pains and sufferings Kashmiris have had to bear since the Indian Prime Minister, who had himself struggled hard against the British to win freedom for India, reneged on his commitment about leaving it to Kashmiris to decide whether they want to join Pakistan or India. This pledge he not only made directly to Kashmiris, but also to the international community at the UN Security Council. The world might have consigned the commitment to historys pile of insoluble problems, kowtowing to Indias growing economic strength, but Kashmiris have kept it alive. And time has proven that it is ultimately the peoples will that prevails.