Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory in northern India. It comprises two major regions: Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. A third region, Ladakh, along with Jammu and Kashmir, was a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir until 2019. After the abrogation of Article 370, the state was broken into two: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The region is known for breathtaking landscapes with a history going back to the Indus Valley Civilization, with evidence of various empires — Gandhara, Mauryan, Kushan, Gupta, Mughal, and Dogra — ruling the area.
The region has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since its 1947 accession to India. The two countries fought a war that resulted in the establishment of the Line of Control (LoC) and divided the region into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Both Pakistan and China lay claims to parts of Indian-administered Kashmir and Ladakh.
The region has faced decades of insurgency, particularly since the 1980s, fueled by political alienation, human rights concerns, and economic disparities, leading to a cycle of violence and counterinsurgency operations.
In 2024, elections were held in the region after nearly a decade, restoring an elected government. Omar Abdullah took office as Chief Minister, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha continues to serve as the Centre’s representative, overseeing administrative affairs.
The author has given suggestion based on his vast experience , which cannot be underestimated. There is an urgent need to clear the myth that the separatist are fighting for their rights constutionally. Both sides have to come forward with clean hands and commitment that We ( both govt. And Kadhmiris) Will Decide and No interference of third party
The author has dwelt upon the Kashmir issue suggesting workable measures to be taken in the prevailing situation. However, the commitment of central govt and the security forces alone may not suffice, without support of the Kashmiris. How well can we as a nation bring about this to happen is an opportunity as well as a challenge for each of our responsible citizens. Mangalam
Article 35 A, a subset of Article 370, should not merely be put on the back burner; it should be off the table completely. Sensible people argue that we should go back to the constitutional position prevailing more or less at the time of Accession and see how much more autonomy can realistically be granted to the state. 2. Demonising Kashmiris has become a nightly exercise on some channels. Where does this narrative that stone pelters are being paid, naturally by the neighbour, come from ? Even to unlettered observers it is evident that killing more “ terrorists “ – why not use the milder term “ militants “ – is no metric of success. More and more young Kashmiris are taking to the gun. 3. It does not appear that things are getting better in Kashmir. Quite the contrary. The hand has always been “ free “, so that is no solution. One hopes the new Governor will bring a healing touch, not mere platitudes.