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Summary
of the Survey
This survey is
the first large test of political opinion in Kashmir by an independent
polling organisation. It shows that people are fed up with ‘large-scale
human rights violations by the security forces and militants’, and
instead they want an end to violence, economic development, and the
maintenance of their Kashmiri identity. The following are the key
findings:
 Most Kashmiris (87%) want immediate steps to be taken for direct
talks between Government of India and Kashmiri leaders.
They want early elections (86%) and immediate steps to end human
rights abuses by the security forces.
In spite of a feeling of alienation, as many as 61% want to remain
with the Indian Union only 6% feel they would be better off with Pakistan.
33% are not clear whether they should be with India or Pakistan.
For efforts to bring long-term peace to the region, Kashmiris (70%)
on the Indian side of the LoC feel that the borders between PoK and
Kashmir should be opened and there should be more trade and cultural
exchanges between Kashmiris on both sides.
Indicating their preference for the secular tradition of
Kashmiriyat 80% of the Kashmiris want displaced Kashmiri pandits to
return. And, 92% do not want a division of J&K on religious or ethnic
grounds.
Kashmiris blame violence in the past ten years as a factor that has
prevented a long-term political solution, and as many as 57% believe that
militants receive their weapons and training from Pakistan. Another 65%
believe that the presence of foreign militants is damaging the Kashmiri
cause. Two thirds believe that Pakistan’s involvement has
worsened the situation, and not many believe that Pakistan is
genuinely concerned about the plight of the Kashmiris. A large majority
(88%) believe that an end to cross border terrorism would help to bring
peace, and to that extent a dialogue with Pakistan could be essential.
There is an overwhelming majority (91%) in favour of a forum in
which Kashmiris from both sides of the LoC can discuss common interests.
Thus
after 12 years of violence, the demand is for peace and stability, and for
the investment needed to provide jobs.
There is little support for armed action or for particular militant
groups; people strongly believe that free and fair elections are the way
forward, even though half of them consider that a new political party is
needed. These findings provide food for thought for the existing parties
in the run-up to the assembly elections in the autumn.
Human
rights violations by the security forces, which government of India
frequently denies, are seen as widespread or occasional by almost half the
respondents, but two thirds consider the militant groups responsible for
this level of violations. Clearly, much more needs to be done to improve
the security of the people, if the elections are to be seen as free and
fair.
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