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Discuss: Cost of Kashmir Conflict

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Kashmiris shout anti-India slogans near the body of Zahid Farooq, 17, who died on February 5, 2010 after an altercation broke out between troops and a group of boys in Srinagar. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images)
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Kashmiris shout anti-India slogans near the body of Zahid Farooq, 17, who died on February 5, 2010 after an altercation broke out between troops and a group of boys in Srinagar. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images)

The India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir has lingered for six decades. Even though sides have made several efforts to resolve the issue through talks, international mediation, and by fighting three wars, there has not been any significant progress toward peace.

The cost of the Kashmir conflict is always cited in terms of lives lost, and the cost of maintaining large-standing armies to ensure victory in a full-scale war. But children living at the heart of the conflict suffer the most from the effects of decades of turmoil and violence.

Join the discussion below: What happens to culture in times of violence, particularly over many years?  For children, what does it mean to grow up in a culture of violence?

And what do you think are the prospects for solving the Kashmir conflict? Is a resolution possible?

Atimad A | 10:20:11 02:54am

Dear Mr.Dhar, what ever u will think or comment you are free, but what reality you cannot decide till you will realize the ground situation. who is shortsighted and long or broad sighted is issue of debate. who suffers and how to end the suffering is concern. religion is not a bad that two in the context of India and Pakistan or so so called two nation theory. my argument is that India and Pakistan (people) are victims of ego, and political narcissism and we should encourage them to leave the occupied state, reunite them and stop exploitation and victimization of kashmirs. when hiunud and muslims can live together in India, Pakistan, srilinka and other countries y not in Kashmir. weak up dear mr Dhar and open ur eyes love ur prampra of Kashmir and live n united states of Jamuu and Kashmir.

adnan | 06:22:10 08:47pm
Dear Sir, I beg to differ. Before I do I ( a Kashmiri from Malechmar) make it clear that i have limitless respect for hindus, muslims, Jews , buddhists,KP's ....whatever. Would be unfortunate if i was classified as a Hate Monger. Pre 1931 kashmir was ruled by a Tyrant regieme. You can search google (i.e keyword Robert Thorpe) and find numerous proofs. In 1931 an event, which was somewhat a clone of the "fall of Bastille" occured in Srinagar. People braved bullets to defy the tyrant and democracy won. Sheikh Abdullah, the cheif proponent of Kashmiri independence was recongnised a leader of Kashmir world-over. To this day 13th July is celebrated as Martyr's Day. Ironically all shades of opinion mark this day as the Martyr's Day. The real test of character was 1947: That's where the kashmiri's shine. While Whole of North India and entire pakistan witnessed the worst Bloodshed and Carnage this land has ever seen, In kashmir not a single soul was harmed. For example in Jammu, which is a province of same state thousands were slaughtered or forced to move to pakistan. Again thanks google, you will get a million tales of this horror. The bad influence did not spread to kashmir. Kasmiri's love their pandits and that will never ever change. If kashmiri's had followed suit with anywhere in north India or with Pakistan there would be no Pandit's Mr Dhar. Again in 1947 when fundamentalists pestered Sheikh Abdullah to change name of Srinagar to something more islamic , Sheikh retorted with creation of Lal Chowk (Red Square). The words secular,socialist in India's constitution appealed to him more than anything in Pakistan. It was Pt Nehru who realised the true nature of kashmir and due to his efforts there are UN resolutions that state Kashmir is a disputed territory. A plebiscite was on the cards, this is when sheikh was arrested and not released for 10 years. The fundamentalist block in india was in-charge. When sheikh finally got back his power had been diluted. He went to jail as the Prime minister of Kashmir and returned as cheif minister of an Indian state. The struggle in kashmir has roots in these facts. The day Sheikh was arrested 250 people died in machine gun fire. The bullets have not stopped to this day. A recent opinion poll indicated that 95% of people in valley want freedom and a mere 2% wants Pakistan. Had we been communal the equation should be otherway round. Mr Dhar request your nod here. I remember the night when Babri Masjid was demolished in Delhi. A bunch of armed miscreations tried to set on fire the Temple (Mandir) between Bulbul shah's Mosque and Reinchen shah's mosque. The locals chased them with bare hands. The opposition would be no lesser had it been a mosque instead. The Mandir stands Proud Mr Dhar. We are talking about downtown srinagar Mr Dhar, the epicentre of kashimri identity. Malechmar is the area behind this temple. I live there Mr Dhar. God Bless. Adnan
Subbaiah Biddanda | 11:15:10 04:22pm
Mr. Adnan, Very good writeup. I being a patriotic Indian Hindu supports the Independence of Kashmir Vally and Azad Kashmir as one Kashmir. [Gilgit Province to remain in Pak and Jammu & Ladhak to be in India]. The problem is that.. the moment a party in India takes this decision or the decision of a Plebiscite which will lead to this result, this party will not win any election in India atleast for the next few decades. Also there is the issue of addressing the concern of people in North East Indian states intensifying their seperatist activities if Kashmir is given Independence. There are just 0.005% of the people in India who have done indepth research on kashmir like me (Arundathi Roy being one of them) others are simply brainwashed into believing that it is a silly thing to even talk about Kashmir's Autonomy (leave alone Independence). This is mainly due to the super patriotic Indian media which has covered India centric news right since Independence thus unintentionally doing a big disfavour to the same country that they love. However I see the Indian media slowly changing and going in for constructive criticism of India's handling of Kashmir. Today UN might have removed Kashmir from its list of disputes but looking at a small but growing tide.. the people of India flowing in favour of your point of view I am hopeful that in the near future the dreams of the majority of Kashmiris will be realized. The more you guys keep educating the Indian masses of the Kashmir issue indepth.. the nearer is the issue towards resolution. Best of Luck. Cheers
anonymous | 04:01:10 10:58am
The prospects for solving the Kashmir conflict will continue to look bleak as long as the Kashmiri people are excluded from any discussions between India and Pakistan involving the future of Kashmir.
Hassan Abbas | 04:12:10 12:51pm
I agree completely. In fact, Both India and Pakistan have tried every trick in the book to hold onto the parts of the Kashmir that they have under their respective control - as the issue was seen as 'unfinished agenda of the 1947 partition'. They argued about their claims at UN, fought wars with each other, used coercive force to subdue Kashmiris and sponsored militant groups in the conflict theatre - but nothing has worked in terms of resolution of the lingering conflict. Perhaps time has come to start considering Kashmiris as human beings and not a commodity. Only a human rights approach can work.
Pandit, K | 07:27:10 05:27pm
While a lot is said about problems in Indian-administered Kashmir, thanks to the free press and coverage, news is suppressed from Pakistan-administered Kashmir where the "Prime Minister" is a puppet of the Pakistani regime. Incidentally, Kashmiris (whether in the Indian-administered or Pakistan-administered part) are disenchanted with Pakistan whose human rights' record and treatment of minorities, including Muslims (go back to Bangladesh, the Ahmediyas, Hindus, Christians, etc.) is anything but flattering. I hope Mr. Abbas also meant the Kashmiri Pandits who were persecuted and forcibly driven out of their homeland with covert and overt support from Pakistan's ISI which has always been a troublemaker and has been gestating terrorist cells everywhere. The latest Wikileaks are quite elaborate about the destructive role of Pakistan's ISI. On the other hand, India has had presidents, ministers and other high-profiled personalities from the minorities. Pakistan shows no respect for its minorities and treats them like "commodities" (to quote Mr. Hassan Abbas). Kashmir is but a raison d'etre for Pakistan's existence which was founded on abstact principles lacking basic fundamentals. I wish, too, that violence ends in South Asia, and Pakistan would do its own people a service by eradicating terrorism rather than using it to achieve political ends. Remember Frankenstein's monster!! Pakistan is headed into the abyss of its own making. We pray for the welfare of the common Pakistani people who are, by and large, decent and innocent, though misled by the corrupt military and civilian leaders for their own ends.
Atmo Jayakumar | 04:23:10 09:25am
I don't understand why India put only non Muslim security personnels in Kashmir? What action has been taken against innumerous rapes done by Security personnels? Why every Kashmiri Muslim is in a shadow of doubt? Why don't India let an International debate on Kashmir? Why the Sardar Patel took double standard when taking Kashmir into the Indian Union when Hyderabad of Nizam was treated in a different way? What is wrong with Israel, UN agreed for a partition of Palestine Arab countries opposed it, and Israel formed on May !4, 1948 the next day Arab countries jointly attacked Israel and Jews need to be persecuted again? Every Individual has a right to live peacefully and any one destroying that is an anti human. India has a Hindu out look in dealing Kashmir and if United States takes the initiative certainly there can be oncensus reached between India and Pakistan, otherwise both countries will torture the Kashmiri in one or other way, and Kashmiri will be a secondary citizen in his own land.

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