Kashmir
is one factor that has led to tensions between
India
and
Pakistan
. For
India
, the
Kashmir
problem is not the core issue whereas, for
Pakistan
, its resolution is an essential prerequisite for improvement of ties. A majority of the earlier generation, which saw the dawn of independence, the 1965 war between
India
and
Pakistan
and the
East Pakistan
crisis in 1971, has developed an animosity, mistrust and suspicion towards each other. However, the youth belonging to the age group 20–35 did not witness any such large-scale war between
India
and
Pakistan
. As historical memories recede, the younger generation is not emotionally swayed like the earlier generation. Emotional detachment helped them to rise above psychological barriers and become more forward-looking and future-oriented. A study was conducted in this context, during November 1998-January 1999, among the educated young elite (lawyers, journalists, people working in non-governmental organizations, students and teachers) in the four metropolitan cities of
India
: Kolkata,
Hyderabad
, Mumbai and
New Delhi
.
Most of the respondents argued that both
India
and
Pakistan
were responsible for the tensions in
Kashmir
. However, the majority of them felt that
Pakistan
is unnecessarily interfering in
Kashmir
. They felt that
India
’s taking this issue to the U.N was a political blunder and that
India
should have repelled the invaders. An overwhelming proportion of the respondents (90 percent) identified
Kashmir
as the major source of tensions between
India
and
Pakistan
. They believed that terrorist activities are far larger than human rights violations. A larger number of them (34 percent) strongly opposed any move to get back
Pakistan
occupied
Kashmir
. Regarding the special status accorded to
Kashmir
, 39 percent preferred a national debate, 30 percent favoured its continuation, 27 percent wanted to remove the special status and 4 percent did not respond.
Most respondents (80 percent) did not want third party mediation because the issue is a bilateral one, and 78 percent felt that
India
should initiate a dialogue with
Pakistan
on the
Kashmir
issue; among them, 57 percent preferred a dialogue with the
Pakistan
government and the militant groups because, without the participation of both, the problem would not be solved. When the respondents were asked about the ideal solution, 28 percent suggested giving more autonomy to J&K, while 25 percent and wanted to recognise the LAC as the international border between
India
and
Pakistan
and 23 percent wanted to curb terrorist activities in
Kashmir
. Only 13 percent favoured a plebiscite in
Kashmir
that would permit the people of
Kashmir
to decide their future.
A majority (60 percent) maintained that expenditure on the military in
Kashmir
was detrimental to economic development. Most of them did not perceive the
Kashmir
issue to be the main reason for the nuclear tests carried out by both countries, though 27 percent expressed that there was a link. A high proportion (41 percent) wanted to solve the problem peacefully and amicably, but 73 percent supported the deployment of forces in
Kashmir
to curb militancy.
A majority of the respondents (83 percent) felt that the Indian government should heed their views. They also opined that they should be allowed to have greater contact with the Pakistani youth.
The majority of the respondents’ views are in consonance with the Government's policy on the following issues:
· there should not be any mediation because the nature of the issue is bilateral and should be settled by
India
and
Pakistan
bilaterally;
· violations of human rights are not taking place on any large scale in
Kashmir
; and
· since terrorist activities in
Kashmir
are taking place on a large scale, deployment of Indian forces in
Kashmir
is necessary to curb them.
The following are some views held by the majority of the respondents which are in variance with the Government approach:
· the Indian Government should give more autonomy to J&K;
· the political leadership has created unnecessary fears over the
Kashmir
issue to divert the attention of people from the real issues faced by
India
and
Pakistan
;
· the present Government will only continue the same old policy of earlier Indian Governments; and
· the nuclear tests conducted by
India
and
Pakistan
will increase tensions between them.
The study reveals a diffuse pattern of responses on the basis of gender, region and occupation. Whether the results of this survey in four major cities of
India
will tally with the views of youth in other parts of
India
is a matter of conjecture.
