The recent election turn-out, results, the coalition government and young Chief Minister Omar Abdullah do offer some hope of finally healing Kashmir. But it is unlikely the long-term peace will return to this paradise. Escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after Mumbai attack, cast dark shadows on the little hope of peace the election results offer.
For the time being Kashmir seems to be a conflict-free zone with less militant strikes and lesser Indian army’s counter operations to flush out terrorism from the valley. But after 20 years of constant conflict (and total 60 years of history of conflicts over LoC) one wonders if there is a storm gathering beneath this calm.
Post-Independence Kashmir has always been a bone of contention for both India and Pakistan. Being a border state Kashmir and Kashmiri’s have forever been in line of fire. The region never got independence from wars and conflicts. Things became worse from 1989, when separatists launched anti-India insurgency movement. Indian army too moved in. Normal life for civilians in this tourist paradise has never been the same.
Will Omar Abdullah be the long awaited leader to turn his troubled state in to a land of peace and normalcy? Unfortunately there is very little he can do except for good governance. Peace needs to be brokered between two nations and not merely between separatists groups. But little good governance by state government can be a good beginning of the healing process.
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