The unifier
Kashmir was arguably the most characteristic success story of Vajpayee's tenure. Few expected a stridently saffron government to gain much traction in the troubled province -- much less with Pakistan. His determination to pursue dialogue disarmed the Valley's separatist leadership and a transactional approach brought even the ISI round to discreet agreements. His distaste for using armed force against Indian citizens was rewarded with a marked downturn in militancy
Atal Bihari Vajpayee lacked neither will nor conviction. He believed that the permanent confrontation with Pakistan had to end and that we needed to move forward in Kashmir. As far back as March 1995, he told separatist leader Shabir Shah when the latter called on Vajpayee in Parliament House that Kashmir needs to be resolved. With his hand on Shah's shoulder, he said, Is gutthi ko suljhana hoga (we need to solve this problem). It made a huge impact
