This article about Kashmir misstated the number of Kashmiri Hindus who were forced to leave their homes during fighting in the region from 1989 to 1991. The number is estimated to be between 200,000 and 400,000, according to human rights groups.
| Page 2 of 2 < |
In Kashmir, Fears of Increasing Militancy
Yasin Malik is a Kashmiri leader who promotes nonviolence.
(Mukhtar Khan - AP)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Malik has led several peaceful protests, but many young Kashmiris now say they are ready to fight.
Malik is a controversial figure. He was at the forefront of militancy in 1989 and was imprisoned by the Indian government in 2002 for allegedly smuggling money to finance insurgents in Kashmir. But he was released after eight months. He has also been accused of atrocities against Kashmiri Hindus. In 1990, he renounced violence and has since started his peace movement.
Some here worry that his peaceful solutions will soon have little relevance.
"We hate the sight of these security forces," said Rizwan, 15, a student in Srinagar who declined to give his last name for fear of retaliation by Indian authorities. "We are Kashmiris, not Indians. Earlier, my mother used to tell me not to join protests, but yesterday even my mother was in the protest with me."
The focus has shifted dramatically from the shrine to a larger national debate over Kashmir's status. Columnists at mainstream English-language newspapers published out of New Delhi on Sunday acknowledged the Kashmir independence issue, with one calling for a vote on Kashmiri independence -- once a rare statement. Some analysts say live television images of the unrest, police actions and anti-India sentiment in Kashmir were beginning to impact public opinion. There was no such coverage during the uprising in the early 1990s.
Until recently, the federal government has offered little leadership on the issue. Analysts say such involvement could have calmed the situation. But Friday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for an end to the protests and violence in Kashmir.
"In this hour of crisis, divisive politics will lead us nowhere," he said, speaking from the heavily fortified ramparts of New Delhi's historic Red Fort to mark the 61st anniversary of India's independence. "It is my conviction that all issues can be resolved only through dialogue and peaceful means."
Independence celebrations included parades, kite-flying contests, family picnics and flag-waving crowds, but Kashmiris spent the weekend waving black flags, unfurling green Pakistani flags and calling for "a national day of mourning."
Special correspondent Zahid Rafiq in Srinagar contributed to this report.
