The Hindu Editorial Analysis
27 November 2025
The Way to Reconciliation in Jammu & Kashmir
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS Paper II: Governance, Internal Security, Federalism | GS Paper III: Security Challenges in Border Areas
Context
The recent bomb blast in New Delhi, which claimed innocent lives, has once again drawn attention to the cycle of violence and alienation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The author—one of Kashmir’s key religious and political voices—calls for a humane, empathetic, and justice-based approach to peacebuilding in the region.
The article underlines that while security operations suppress symptoms, reconciliation requires justice, dignity, and dialogue rooted in empathy and respect.
Key Issues Highlighted
1. The Rush to Judge
- In the aftermath of terror incidents, the media and public discourse often rush to assign blame to a community or religion.
- This collective suspicion alienates ordinary Kashmiris, especially students and professionals living outside the Valley.
- Such stereotyping deepens mistrust and fear, worsening the disconnect between Kashmir and the rest of India.
2. Collective Punishment
- Demolition of homes and harassment of families of alleged militants have become common.
- The author argues that a house is not just a structure but a repository of belonging and memory.
- These actions punish the innocent and perpetuate cycles of humiliation, rather than curbing militancy.
3. Alienation and Civil Liberties
- Constant police surveillance, job insecurities, and property attachments have created widespread suffocation among youth.
- Curtailment of liberties and lack of opportunities push educated young people into despair, not militancy.
- The withdrawal of Article 370 and changes to domicile and land rights have deepened fears of demographic manipulation and loss of identity.
Path Toward Reconciliation
1. Human-Centric Approach
- J&K should not be treated merely as a law-and-order problem but as a human and political reality requiring redress, dignity, and confidence-building.
- Policymakers must focus on healing through justice and empathy rather than punitive action.
2. Dialogue and Inclusion
- Sustainable peace can emerge only through dialogue and inclusion, as envisioned in former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s framework of Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, and Kashmiriyat.
- Guns and collective punishments create resentment; dialogue creates trust.
3. Youth Empowerment
- The author urges the youth to shun violence and engage in constructive peace efforts.
- A dignified and participatory governance structure must restore hope, respect, and opportunity.
Conclusion
“Peace cannot be built on the walls of violence; it must be grounded in justice, empathy, and dialogue.”
For long-term stability in Jammu and Kashmir, India needs to move from coercive control to collaborative confidence-building. Reconciliation will not come through fear or force but through restoring trust, dignity, and democratic participation—transforming alienation into acceptance and despair into hope.