PEACE FOR KASHMIR

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES?

The people of Kashmir have lived in absolute misery for
over half a century due to the constant state of siege and
war and neglect by the United Nations and the
superpowers of the world. Massacres, rapes, mutilation of
bodies, uncontrolled abuse, horrible poverty, and a
constant state of war and terror exists (Fai, 2002a).

The media has not focused on the plight of the Kashmiri

people to address the humanitarian concerns in Kashmir.
At this late stage, it is time to seriously consider
how social justice can be established in Kashmir.
The United Nations and the United States need to
step forward to seek meaningful solutions for
peace in the region, and to establish human rights
for the people of Kashmir. The people of
Kashmir have a movement in place to seek self-
determination and a free reunited Kashmir (Fai,
2002a).
Indeed, Fai (2002b) has linked the aggression
against the Kashmiri to the global campaign
against terrorism. Fai is concerned that the United
States, hopefully,
will not support India’s brutal occupation of
Kashmir and will take the lead in
providing an arena for self-determination for the
Kashmiri people. He notes that
• A quadrilateral dialogue involving the
US, India, Pakistan, and Kashmir
• Appropriate use of the newly
developed procedures and
mechanics by
• the United Nations (2002c, p. 1).
Fai (2002c) also proposes that all future negotiations
between India and Pakistan can be meaningful and
successful if all parties concerned, i.e., the
governments of India and Pakistan and the Kashmiri
leadership take the following steps: The first
requirement is that there has to be a cease-fire from all
sides that must be followed by negotiations.

Negotiations cannot be carried out at a time when

parties are trying to kill each other.
 Negotiations should be initiated simultaneously at four

different levels, including,

(a)an intra-Kashmir dialogue between the leadership of All Parties Hurriyet

Conference, Dogras, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Pandits.

(b)Talks between India and Pakistan.

(c)Talks between the governments of India and the Kashmiri leadership,

without detracting from the necessity of trilateral negotiations, Kashmiri
leadership should be ready for a preparatory dialogue with

the Indian government provided an environment of nonviolence is

established.

(d) Finally, tripartite talks between India, Pakistan, and genuine leadership
of the people of Kashmir (pp. 1–2).
The Kashmiris need facilitation and assistance
from the international community to help them
establish a free country, and India and Pakistan
need help in establishing peace in the region.
We need to utilize the advances that
psychology has made instead of the traditional
use of force and warfare?
Sengha (2002) argues that it is possible for Indians and

Pakistanis to communicate, as evidenced by the outcome

of a youth conference on Kashmir held in Singapore.

where Indian and Pakistani youth came together to discuss

Kashmir. It is reported that by the end of the conference

the youth were completely converted from their original

polarized position that they had brought from their

countries, and felt empathy for each other’s position .

The youth came to the conference completely

committed to their political positions as representatives of

their countries, yet they

left with an appreciation for the other side’s perspective.

It is time that we let the

youth, who will be the leaders of tomorrow, show us how

we can achieve peace in the Indian subcontinent.
India and Pakistan have military troops

on their respective borders creating a very volatile

situation. A war between India and Pakistan can
lead to some drastic outcomes for our planet
given that both nations now have nuclear
capability and have the capacity to destroy our
planet. (Brenes & Du Nann Winter, 2001)
57-year crisis that is impacting the Kashmiri
people must be resolved. Using worldview,
communication skills, genuineness, warmth, and

social perspective-taking skills, it is be possible to

teach warring nations to solve their problems with
strategies that will not only create peace, but will
also ensure continued success in maintaining
peace.
Further, these strategies should be implemented
within the framework offered by the United
Nations as a prerequisite to the worldview and
communicating skills training. It is time to to
solve global crises and to move away from
violence.