Kashmir conflict: the lingering trauma
By K.N. Pandita – Kashmir militancy has entered its 16th year. The end of the conflict is still elusive though there are claims contrary to it.
No doubt unfair assembly elections of 1986 had created bad political climate in the State but then the eruption of militancy as a consequential phenomenon was rather unexpected. The reason is that Kashmirian psyche was not familiar with an armed conflict with the State. Even during the four decade freedom struggle of the National Conference, violence had never been either advocated or accepted as a means of attaining the goal.
Therefore eruption of armed violence in 1989 was in itself a big shock to the ordinary Kashmiri. He could not believe that an atmosphere of violence claiming human lives and innocent blood would the part of his future history..
It is generally believed that the youth lured to militancy were exhorted to keep the whole thing a closely guarded secret even from their parents and family members. Such was the indoctrination that a prospective militant youth became somewhat alien to his own family. This left a deep scar on the mind of ordinary Kashmiri. No wonder, therefore, that in utter exasperation, innocent parents approached the security forces to help them locate their dear ones. One can understand the deep trauma through which the parents were forced to go. It was tantamount to the disintegration of the family.