Opinion | From Violence to Peace: Kashmir’s New Era

Denouncing violence and supporting peace are the true ways the Kashmiri people are helping future generations.

Terrorism disrupts not only peace, progress, and brotherhood but also impacts the psychological, social, and political segments of society. This disruption was acutely observed during the turmoil period in Kashmir. Terrorism poses a grave threat to religious, social, and political institutions. It has no religion, as all religions preach one fundamental lesson: peace.

These terrorist miscreants are often failed individuals, psychologically unfit, and radicalized on the basis of false narratives. They are sometimes led to believe in a false hope of paradise in the hereafter. This misguided belief drives them to either die for their cause or continue proliferating their supposed heroism.
Terrorism’s dangerous effects permeate every aspect of society. Psychologically, it instills fear and trauma in the population, leading to widespread anxiety and mental health issues. Socially, it fractures communities, eroding trust and harmony among people. Politically, it destabilizes governments, undermines institutions, and hinders progress and development.

Ultimately, terrorism’s pervasive impact hinders the collective advancement of society, making it crucial to address and counter these false narratives with education, awareness, and a commitment to peace. Kashmir has faced the toughest form of terrorism, and the army has been instrumental in eliminating this menace. The army has not only fought terrorists but also worked to socially motivate youth who were radicalized and victimized. They have applied various people-friendly approaches to identify militants and encourage them to surrender.

The face of terrorism has been changing from bad to worse. In every situation, the army has ensured the security of the people of Kashmir and provided various forms of assistance. The army’s efforts in confronting different faces of terrorism have yielded positive results.
Before the Burhan period, militancy was relatively normalized, but Burhan revitalized it by using social media and becoming a fan favourite among the younger generation. Several factors contributed to Burhan’s rise, one of which was the public funerals and glorification of militants. This practice was eventually curtailed, leading to significant changes over time.

Before the abrogation of Article 370, local militancy was on the rise. However, after the abrogation, there has been a notable decrease in militant activities. Despite the evolving face and numbers of terrorism, common issues like violence, disruption of education, peace, and business in Kashmir have been addressed to some extent by the abrogation.

The people of Kashmir have understood the effects and consequences of terrorism and are now committed to peace and development. However, it is an admitted fact that development is not possible during periods of violence. Today, we see an open rebuttal to terrorism and it’s all forms Kashmir. Unlike in 1991 or during the rise of Burhan, the common Kashmiri is not supporting terrorism.

What we see today can be described as an internal struggle. Due to the lack of support from the Kashmiri people, terrorists are now fighting as a last resort. They have lost credibility and confidence, and the Kashmiri people have realized that they will never support terrorism, which has caused immense loss of life and property.
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