Articles by Luv Puri

Pakistan's move to grant provincial status to its Northern Areas, formally a part of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir, should be seen as part of the process that aims to revisit the Kashmir dispute on the basis of pragmatism. Even though the move has been criticised by India and Kashmiri independence groups, Pakistan's political package to the Northern Areas may be a step in the right direction.

New socio-political forces emerging at the micro level in Pakistan administered Kashmir are changing the status quo, with the ruling political elite now facing the stiffest of challenges. Rajput-soodhan caste groups, which have wielded considerable influence in the political set-up of PAK, are facing challenges from the gujjar-jat castes living in the south. The desire to open up the line of control is also intense in PAK and shows that the wounds of history have started healing. The leadership of both India and Pakistan need to further cement the bonds of language and culture between the two parts of the state.

The resumption of dialogue between the Indian government and the Hurriyat has renewed prospects for a permanent solution to the J and K problem. But other leaders in the region have challenged the Hurriyat's leadership as the latter does not represent all communities in the state. Steps towards a durable peace can only begin with the participation of all communities and a better understanding of the region's long history.

The collapse of mainstream leadership due to deficient institutions is directly contributing to the reversal of people's participation in the democratic process that began in the 2002 assembly elections.

Even as the Kashmir Valley is returning to normalcy, militancy in Jammu appears to be picking up. The peculiar social and political background of the region, so different from the rest of the state needs to be taken into account in addressing the continuing militancy.