Is Kashmir predominantly a security issue or a political issue?
The problem in Kashmir is essentially a political one. In the absence of a solution, it has given rise to serious security concerns. The basic problem in Kashmir appears to be that India’s political drift and inaction has been so acute that the current set of separatists, even the hardliners, are looking like moderates, because the emerging set of young people taking charge are radicalised and more united than ever in their call for azaadi. How should the government of India handle this swiftly changing course of events? I would not agree with you that these these young protestors are more radicalised or organised. Certainly today’s protestors are a very different group of young men, women, and, in some cases, children. It is clear that what we’re seeing now in Kashmir is a qualitatively different kind of protest. We do need to recognise this. The protests are certainly more widespread and there is significant alienation. One would have to examine carefully what exactly triggered this
