How to solve the Kashmiri problem once and for all.

I was in Kashmir for holidays in May'2011, this was the first time i was there and as soon as i landed at the Srinagar airport i could sense i was somewhere special. Kashmir has a special image in my pshyche, with wars and terrorism, continous posturing of separatists and Indian Government's percieved defeat when it came to foreign policy viz. Kashmir i had a pre-image of Kashmiris that was anti-indian, anti-human and because of that my opinion of Indian muslims also was not savoury.

I was picked by a Kashmiri driver who drove me to Pahalgaum, my first destination. Pahalgaum has been popularised by numerous bollywood fims and true to its image it was heaven on earth. I dont know if you can paint a picture more beautiful.In Pahalgaum i found out that local kashmiris had unionised the whole tourism affair. Kashmiris depend on tourism which is primarily Indian in nationality. Every Country that depends on tourism has people who are the nicest in the world, be it bankgok or cairo. Naturally local kashmiris where very very warm, infact at one point i thought these are the nicest people i am coming across. The tourism starts in March and lasts till the end of amarnath yatra with peak being may, june and july. Amarnath yatra is a huge source of income for these local Kashmiris. To imagine a situation where kashmiris want amarnath yatra to be hindered is preposterous is what i learned on this trip. There livelihood depends on our hindu pilgrims who visit almost inhospitable terrain with gusto only relgion can deliver. So these unions are basically diktat that only kashmiris get to benefit from this tourism industry. Cars have to be local and so does any mode of conveyance beyond certain points.

The warmth and over dependance on tourism made me realize that Kashmiris depend on Indian tourists for their livelihood and to imagine bad hospitality will be again preposterous. So i started thinking, what is going wrong, why isnt a kashmiri part of the mainstream India and where are we lacking to bring this issue to closure. While i was on my way back from Sonmarg, another picteresque point i asked my driver of what he thought. He was very clear about his views on Pakistan and India.

He told me " every kid has india's name on his mouth but heart belongs to Pakistan, this is purely because of religion". He told me that Kashmiris identify with Pakistanis because of religion and knowing that India has every advantage to offer over Pakistan religion still takes precedence. While i was watching a kid clean the car i was travelling in he started singing "Sare Jahan se accha" with a mischevious smile. It told me that "saying saare jahan se accha is not natural for this guy", it would be like Sonia Gandhi singing our national anthem, you just cant feel it even though you have it.

My interaction with the local Kashmiris changed my view but in the end the opinion still is the same. I saw a modern Srinagar with every basic amenities other indian cities had, i saw peace loving citizens going about there work, i saw heaven on earth yet every once in while Kashmir boils coz aspiration of people take a backseat over religious ideology. Kashmiris say they want freedom, but in reality they want to be a part of Pakistan, otherwise there is no question of parting with India, the reason is simply muslim brotherhood. It is a no brainer and anyone who visits Kashmir will know this if he talks to the locals.

I always thought a plebiscite would help Indias cause but if a plebiscite where to be held in Kashmir today, Kashmir will ask for freedom, this freedom is basically a cry for their pakistani identity which is completely religious. I could understand why India has failed in Kashmir, India has always been a soft state, it could not take decisive steps to ensure that Kashmir isnt a a problem. Since partition India could have taken steps to make sure Kashmir was indianized but it kept on alienating by ignoring the demography and influence of Pakistan.

Xingxiang is the Kasmiri part of China where muslims have been neutralized as China "a dont mess with me" state has changed the demographics of the region and if you paid attention you will see once in while news coming from the region of Riots and looting by the now minority muslims who dont enjoy the same nativeness they used to do. Point is India will never ever assimilate Kashmir into the national fold until and unless hindus are allowed to resettle in the valley. Army needs to make sure that people are resettling there without fear. Open Kashmir to the rest of the country, allow kashmiri pundits to settle there and allow investment in the state. Separatists dont contest the right of Kasmiri Pandits on the land, why cant we take their assurance on face value and start with that. Kashmiris will fight this tooth and nail if any attempt was made to recolonize Kashmir. This is the reason Amarnath Shrine Board Controversy hit a nerve even though amarnath yatra is a major source of income in Kashmir. The right wing in this country understands the reason Kashmir is a problem so do the liberals but if they where to take bold steps like China they would lose there vote bank across India. Muslim brotherhood wants Kashmir to be a muslim majority why else would the govt. not take any steps to allow Indians to settle there. Congress is an anti-national party that does not place national interests above its own interests, it has been the case for decades. What do they fear, separatist movements, bloodshed, armed protest, isnt that already a part of Kashmir today, have we moved to any solution. Kashmir being a muslim majority is overwhelmingly anti-indian and everyear we get some issue that pushes us even further. Our army has already been blamed for atrocities, exaggerated by the brotherhood who will never miss a point to play the victim card. Lets make it a dirty war, settle hindus and sikhs and christians in Kashmir like the rest ofIndia, if Mumbai cannot oust the biharis why will Kashmir be allowed.

The day Indian govt. thinks about its self-interest is the day Kashmiri problem will be solved, Pakistanis will never stop bombing India till the day Kashmir is freed for their influence.Pakistan will always create nuisance, thats another story irrespective of the Kasmiri issue.

No country in the world has dominated being weak, India by its deed is a weak state and has always failed to protect its interest.