Kashmir - - - Conflict And Peace Making

aggression breeds patriotism, and patriotism curbs dissent.” “

Maureen Dowd, “The Iceman Cometh,” 2003

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF KASHMIR CONFLICT AND PEACEMAKING

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PEACE MAKING

MISFORTUNES HUMAN OF BEINGS The misfortune of human beings may be divided into two classes: First, those inflicted by the nonhuman environment, and, second, those inflicted by other people. As mankind have progressed in knowledge and technique, the second class has become a continually increasing percentage of the total. In old times, famine, for example, was due to natural causes, and, although people did their best to combat it, large numbers of them died of starvation. At the present moment large parts of the world are faced with the threat of famine, natural causes have contributed to the situation, the principal causes are human.

For six years the civilized nations of the world devoted all their best energies to killing each other, and they find it difficult suddenly to switch over to keeping each other alive. Having destroyed harvests, dismantled agricultural machinery, and disorganized shipping, they find it no easy matter to relieve the shortage of crops in one place by means of a superabundance in another, as would easily be done if the economic system were in normal working order. As this illustration shows, it is now man that is man’s worst enemy

Nature, it is true, still sees to it that we are mortal, but with no progress in medicine it will become more and more common for people to live until they have had their fill of life. We are supposed to wish to live for ever and to look forward to the unending joys of heaven, of which, by miracle, the monotony will never grow stale. But in fact, if you question any candid person who is no longer young, he is very likely to tell you that, having tasted life in this world, he has no wish to begin again as a ‘new boy’ in another. For the future, therefore, it may be taken that much the most important evils that mankind have to consider are those which they inflict upon each other through stupidity or malevolence or both. I think that the evils that men inflict on each other, and by reflection upon themselves, have their main source in evil passions rather than in ideas and beliefs. But ideas and principles that do harm are, as a rule, though not always, cloaks for evil passions. Excerpt of ‘Ideas that have Harmed Mankind’ Bertrand Russell’s Unpopular Essays

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PEACE MAKING

OUTLINE: Conflict and Peacemaking Kashmir - - - History and Geography Birth of Kashmir Conflict Pak-Indo claims and bases of conflict Ever-prevailing violence in the valley Psychological Impacts of Kashmir Conflict on Kashmiris Social identity theory and Kashmiris Obstacles in peacemaking process Conclusion

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There is a speech that has been spoken in many languages by the leaders of many countries. It goes like this: “The intentions of our country are entirely peaceful. Yet, we are also aware that other nations, with their new weapons, threaten us. Thus we must defend ourselves against attack. By so doing, we shall protect our way of life and preserve the peace.” Almost every nation claims concern only for peace but, mistrusting other nations, arms itself in self-defense. The result is a world that has been spending $2 billion per day on arms and armies while hundreds of millions die of malnutrition and untreated disease. The elements of such conflict, a perceived incompatibility of actions or goals, are similar at all levels, from nations in an arms race, to conflicted Middle Easterners. In the last decade of the twentieth century, in country after country, men, women, and children by the millions were tortured and slaughtered, their homes burned, their lives totally disrupted.

CONFLI CT

Millions of individuals today are refugees from state terror and communal fighting; they live in camps and in flimsy shelters; they trudge through snowy hills carrying a few meager possessions. Today’s civil wars and state sponsored mass killings are “dirty wars.” It has been well said that they are deep rooted, highly internationalized, fought ruthlessly with enormous human suffering, and difficult to resolve. Social-psychological studies have identified several ingredients of conflict. What’s striking (and what simplifies our task) is that these ingredients are common to all levels of social conflict: Social Dilemmas, Competition, Perceived Injustice, Misperceptions. Let’s have a quick review of the past events to illustrate how comes this list of conflict ingredients:

Having a look on our own history, we come to know that our ancestors believed that after the British would have gone, we’d become the subjects of Hindus. As far our unique ideology, apart from the Hindus, as Muslims was concerned, they believed to get a separate homeland and struggled for it desperately, where they’d be able to spend their lives according to their own beliefs. So inception of Pakistan is associated with social dilemmas to which the Muslims of Indian subcontinent came across. Nations and groups are found often, competing for scarce resources and gaining political power. The effects of such a ‘competition’ helped fuel the Northern Ireland conflict, where since 1969 hostilities between the ruling Protestant majority and the Catholic minority have claimed more than 3,200 lives. (A comparable population proportion would number 515,000 in the United States, 107,000 in Britain, 57,000 in Canada, and 36,000 in Australia.)

After 9/11, war against terrorism is what generally is associated with the ‘perceived injustice.’ So, America justifies demolition of Afghanistan as the consequences of being victimized by the Muslims in general and in specific terms, by Al-Qaeda. In 2003, the United States began the Iraq war presuming (misperception) the existence of “a vast underground network that would rise in support of coalition forces to assist security and law enforcement.” Alas, the network didn’t materialize, and the resulting postwar security vacuum enabled looting, sabotage, and persistent attacks on American forces.

Although toxic forces can breed destructive conflict, we can harness other forces to bring conflict to a constructive resolution. These forces of peace and harmony are listed as:    

Contact Cooperation Communication Conciliation

PEACEMAKI NG

Now the question arises: How to bring these forces in action to resolve issues between nations both armed with nuclear weapons and extreme rivalry since their birth?

Since 1947, Pakistan and India are in invariable state of war on Kashmir Conflict and went for three deadly wars to claim Kashmir. The tremendous drain of resources incurred by the two countries on military buildup and arms-race including the acquisition of nuclear bombs is a result of their confrontation over Kashmir. The official propaganda each government has directed against the other created enmity, distrust and hatred in the respective populations of these countries against their “mortal enemy”. This has gone on for over six decades and there is no end in sight. This has poisoned the minds of Indian and Pakistani people. As a result we see political polarization and perennial tensions amongst the people that stand in the way of settling the issues like Kashmir and the normalization of relations between the two

UNFINISH ED BUSINESS OF PARTITIO N

Disputed ownership of Kashmir has resulted in a community socially, economically and more over the fact is to be considered, psychologically paralyzed. People in Kashmir are resilient to a great extent, but they are challenged by a lot of psychological and emotional difficulties. Most of these difficulties are very rarely talked about. Often they are only expressed through physical complaints. The objective of our today’s discussion is to have a look on ‘Psychological Impacts of Kashmir Conflict on Kashmiris’ and ‘History of Peacemaking in Kashmir and its Impacts on Kashmiris.’

KASHMIR --HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

The State of Jammu and Kashmir is situated between 32.17 degree and 36.58-degree north latitude and 37.26 degree and 80.30-degree east longitude; the total area of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is 22,22,236 square kilometers. The geography of the Kashmir valley, stretches for about 84 miles from the northeast to the southwest and is approximately 20 to 25 miles broad. Its height above the sea level is over 5,000 feet. The topography of the state is such that, lowlying valleys surrounded by mountain ranges characterize it; the most important of them all is the Kashmir valley that lies 1700 metres above the sea level, encompassed by the mighty Himalayas. Some of these valleys are the Tawi valley, Chenab valley, Poonch valley and Sind Valley.

The mountain chains that adorn the region include the Karakoram range, Nun Kun range, the Zanskar range and Nanga Parbat. The State of Jammu and Kashmir has many Himalayan rivers flowing through it; the most significant among these are the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. Due to the geography, location, climate, soil, rainfall and altitude, the vegetation in the area ranges from tropical deciduous forests to temperate and coniferous forests. The Jammu and Kashmir region has loamy soil rich in magnesia, in most parts. The other varieties of soils found in the region are clay, sandy and peats. As far as the regional flora is concerned, the area is rich in pines, conifers and medicinal herbs. Fauna in the Jammu and Kashmir region ranges from a variety of mountain birds to animals. The climate in this part of India, as any other depends upon the time of the year and location, the area in naturally cool and extremely cold depending upon the 1. altitude and mountainous geography. [1] http://www.kashmirhub.com/geography-of-kashmir/index.html

Kashmir, if literally translated, means land desiccated from water: "ka" (the water) and shimeera (to desiccate). Tradition says that Kashmir was originally a lake that was drained by the great saint of ancient India Kashyap. It was included in the empire of Ashoka Maurya who is credited with the foundation of the city of Srinagar around the year 250 BC. During this period Buddhism spread in Kashmir and flourished under the Kushans. During the reign of Kanishka, the third Buddhist council took place in Kashmir which has been attested by the 7th century Chinese traveler Hien Tsang. But Hinduism held its sway in the region. The 7th Century AD witnessed the establishment of a dynasty called the Karkota whose foundation stone was laid by Durlabhavarrdhana. The most famous ruler of this dynasty was Lalitaditya Muktapid who built the world famous sun temple (Martand) in Kashmir. The Karkotas were supplanted by the Utpalas in 855 AD. The most important ruler of this dynasty was Avanti-verman. He recovered Kashmir from utter political and economic disorder into which Kashmir had fallen during the rule of his predecessors. Didda, a Gupta widowed queen, ruled Kashmir until 1003 AD when the Lohara dynasty took over. Didda was a very unscrupulous and willful lady and led a very immoral life. But in spite of these drawbacks, she ruled the valley with firm hands.

The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was the de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an able ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end and thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din whose dynasty ruled the valley for 222 years. The greatest ruler of this dynasty was undoubtedly Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin. Under his rule Kashmir was culturally and politically at its zenith. The kingdom was annexed into the Mughal Empire in 1586 and thus was extinguished the freedom of Kashmir. In 1757 Kashmir came under the control of Ahmed Shah Durrani, the Afghan who invaded India many times. In 1819 Kashmir was annexed by Ranjit Singh and made a part of his Sikh empire. The two Anglo-Sikh wars fought between the Sikhs and Ranjit Singh resulted in the complete extinction of the Sikh sovereignty in Kashmir. The British gave away Kashmir to Ghulab Singh for the sum of 75 lakhs of rupees under the Treaty of Amritsar. This entitled Ghulab Singh to have his complete sway over the dominion. He extended his territory by annexing Ladakh. Ghulab Singh died in 1857 and was replaced by Rambir Singh (1857-1885). Two other Marajahs, Partab Singh (1885-1925) and Hari Singh ruled in succession.

Maharaja Sir Hari Singh ascended the throne in 1925. He continued to govern the state till 1950. In 1932 Kashmir's first political party - All Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference was formed by Sheik Abdullah The party was later renamed the National Conference in 1939 and continues to be a major political party in Kashmir today. The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was the de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an able ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end and thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din whose dynasty ruled the valley for 222 years. The greatest ruler of this dynasty was undoubtedly Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin. Under his rule Kashmir was culturally and politically at its zenith. The kingdom was annexed into the Mughal Empire in 1586 and thus was extinguished the freedom of Kashmir. The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was the de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an able ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end and thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din whose dynasty ruled the valley for 222 years.

The greatest ruler of this dynasty was undoubtedly Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin. Under his rule Kashmir was culturally and politically at its zenith. The kingdom was annexed into the Mughal Empire in 1586 and thus was extinguished the freedom of Kashmir. The British gave away Kashmir to Ghulab Singh for the sum of 75 lakhs of rupees under the Treaty of Amritsar. This entitled Ghulab Singh to have his complete sway over the dominion. He extended his territory by annexing Ladakh. Ghulab Singh died in 1857 and was replaced by Rambir Singh (1857-1885). Two other Marajahs, Partab Singh (1885-1925) and Hari Singh ruled in succession. Maharaja Sir Hari Singh ascended the throne in 1925. He continued to govern the state till 1950. In 1932 Kashmir's first political party - All Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference was formed by Sheik Abdullah The party was later renamed the National Conference in 1939 and continues to be a major political party in Kashmir today. [2] 2. http://www.kashmirhub.com/history-of-kashmir/history-of-kashmir-before-1947.html

HISTO RY KASHMI CONFLIC

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BIRTH OF KASHMI R CONFLIC T

After Indian Independence in 1947, the ruler of the princely state of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, refused to accede to either India or Pakistan. When Pakistan invaded Kashmir in the following year, the ruler of Kashmir sought help from the Indian government and agreed to place Kashmir under the dominion of India. As a result India sent its troops to Kashmir to help the Maharaja. A UN cease-fire in 1949 saw the end of fighting and created the first Line-of-Control. In 1956 Kashmir was, in effect, integrated into the Indian Union under a new Constitution. However, Azad Kashmir, the area which Pakistan gained during its campaign in 1948, continues to remain with Pakistan. The volatile situation was aggravated by the Chinese occupation of the Aksai Chin region, in Ladakh, in 1959. The situation came to head in 1963 when a Sino-Pak agreement defined the Chinese border with Pakistani Kashmir and ceded Indian-claimed territory to China. India and Pakistan fought over Kashmir again in 1965. A UN cease-fire took effect in September, 1965. Prime Minister Lal Bhadur Shastri of India and President Ayub Khan of Pakistan signed the Tashkent agreement on 1st January 1966. They

Fighting erupted between India and Pakistan once again in the month of December 1971, after the leaders of the independence movement in East Pakistan sought India's help. Its leaders were aided by India in their struggle for independence. After the war, the province of East Pakistan emerged as an independent country called Bangladesh. A new cease-fire took effect and the Shimla Agreement was signed between the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Pakistani President Z. A. Bhutto. Both the countries agreed to sort out all issues bilaterally. Kashmir was a tourist's paradise during the 1970's and early 1980's. However tourism in Kashmir declined during the late 1980's and 1990's, due to the terror perpetrated by separatist militants and self-styled freedom fighters. Victimized by Islamic fundamentalists and mercenaries, and Indian troops, thousands of innocent Kashmiri lives have been lost due to terrorism. Today the situation has somewhat improved with both countries agreeing to come to the negotiating table and discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind. All this augurs well for the state of Jammu and Kashmir and hopefully, peace will return to Kashmir - followed by tourists, who remember its beautiful parks, rolling meadows, spectacular mountains and scenic 3. http://www.kashmirhub.com/history-of-kashmir/history-of-kashmir-after-1947.html destinations with nostalgia. [3]

ISSU E KASHMI CONFLIC

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PSYCHOLOGIC AL IMPACTS OF KASHMIR CONFLICT ON KASHMIRIS

Psychological and emotional injuries may be the most enduring effects of major conflicts between nations in the present era, yet historically, they may be the least addressed in terms of rebuilding a society and preventing violence. In recent world conflicts, terrorism has been purposely utilized against civilians as a means of attacking the self-esteem and morale of “the enemy,” as well as simple retribution. In fact, this is what has been happening in Kashmir valley since 1989 (beginning of insurgency as called by India, and interpreted as ‘freedom movement’ by Pakistan). Kashmiriites are the victims of violence. They are being: brutally murdered, displaced, and expropriated (direct violence); assaulted economically

Insurgency in Kashmir has existed in various forms, mainly on the Indian administrated side of the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir has been the target of a campaign of militancy by all sides in the conflict. Thousands of lives have been lost since 1989 due to the intensified insurgency. Casualties include Muslim and Hindu civilians (men, women, and children), Indian Armed Forces, and Kashmiri and foreign militants. The Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan has been accused by India of supporting and training mujahideen[1][2] to fight in Jammu and Kashmir.[3][4] While, International Human Right Groups have accused Indian army of committing grave Human rights violations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.[5] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6033383.stm http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/06/wafghan06.xml http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/world/asia/21quetta.html http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7D81F3EF936A15751C0A9649C8B63 http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,,PAK,,3ae6a8558,0.html

A 1996 Human Rights Watch report accuses the Indian military and Indian-government backed paramilitaries of "committ[ing] serious and widespread human rights violations in Kashmir."[6] One such alleged massacre occurred on January 6, 1993 in the town of Sopore. TIME Magazine described the incident as such: "In retaliation for the killing of one soldier, paramilitary forces rampaged through Sopore's market setting buildings ablaze and shooting bystanders. The Indian government pronounced the event 'unfortunate' and claimed that an ammunition dump had been hit by gunfire, setting off fires that killed most of the victims."[7] In addition to this, there have been claims of disappearances by the police or the army in Kashmir by several human rights organizations.[8][9] 6. http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/India-07.htm 7. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977469,00.html 8. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78871.htm 9. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6367917.stm

Besides CCS, the Department of Sociology from the University of Kashmir has written reports regarding the effect of violence on Kashmiri society. Thousands of people have been the victims of enforced disappearances by the government. Another CCS member, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), has brought together hundreds of Kashmiri families whose members have been the victims of Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (EID) by the Indian government. The APDP is a collective campaigning organization that seeks truth and justice on this severe human rights issue in Kashmir. Recently, in April 2003, APDP organized a worldwide hunger strike, coordinated in different cities across the world, pressing for an end to disappearances, prosecution of perpetrators, and appointment of a commission to probe into all enforced disappearances. The APDP, along with other CCS member organizations, has helped families pursue legal cases as well as highlight this issue through reports, videos, and seminars.

If we talk about the psychological impact of terror-related violence on Kashmir’s social environment. Historically, both state and non-state actors have resorted to the same approaches in terrorizing civilian populations, while using different weapons and techniques. For both, the goals of terror are political. However, the challenges of social and economic order cannot be adequately undertaken unless we clearly understand the psychology of political violence. These concepts in many ways guide domestic and foreign policy, but have clear distinctions. On the one hand, a distinction can be made between violence undertaken because persons have a right to defend their home, and actions undertaken supposedly to “alter the behaviors and attitudes of multiple audiences,”[18] whether they are ‘conspiratorial’ or not.

Kashmir’s experience could prove important in analyzing the psychological impact of political violence. Together with its atmosphere of fear, the Kashmiri militants have created an atmosphere of widespread discontent. In this regard, “the secrecy of planning and the visibility of results” may be illustrative of a more general phenomenon in which individual and population vulnerability to violence is linked to terror. At least this has been the position of researchers who have been active in the field, and the particular case of Kashmir.

On the one hand, powerful ideological forces are creating a complex movement, “especially under the banner of Islam”[10] thus diminishing the traditional significance of the nation-state. On the other hand, political organizations command “moral inhibitions”[11] as a reasonable alternative “to alter the attitudes and behavior of multiple audiences.”[12] As one writer has put the issue however, “terrorism and our conceptions of it depend on…context…and on how groups and individuals who participate in or respond to the actions we call terrorism relate to the world in which they act.”[13] Kashmir’s experience could prove important in contextualizing political terrorism. Terror-related violence has left a death toll running into tens of thousands and a population brutalized by fighting and fear. Together with its atmosphere of fear, the Kashmiri militants have createdWalter an atmosphere widespread discontent. 10.Reich, (editor). Origins ofof Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind. Washington: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1998. pp. 10. 11.Crenshaw, Martha. (Ed.) Terrorism in Context. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995. pp. 4. 12.Crenshaw, Martha. (Ed.) Terrorism in Context. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995. pp.3.

Since 1947 the conflict between India and Pakistan over the territorial rule of Kashmir has shaped attitudes towards terrorism. What started as essentially an indigenous popular uprising against external rule has created a social environment “beleaguered by terrorism, repression, misery and destitution.”[13] Political terrorism has been largely characterized as a “movement of political violence….fueled by ethnic, religious and linguistic factors.”[14] The inconsistencies and failures of government policies in Kashmir have allowed “social elements to encourage votaries of political violence through passive as well as active support.”[15] Further, “peasants in villages formerly under the militants’ sway have been disillusioned with killings, rapes, and criminal [16] 13.Fai, Ghulam Nabi. “Free, elections Kashmir” Commentary. The Washington Sunday activities.” It isfairin this incontext that the concept Times: of political September 15, 2002, B5. terrorism can be best understood. In Kashmir, terrorism is 14.Wallace, Paul. “Political Violence and Terrorism in India: The Crisis of political Identity” in Terrorism in Context. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State Universityof Press, 1995, 352violence directed largely characterized by “movements political 15.Wallace, Paul. “Political Violence and Terrorism in India: The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in against the state,The and in turn,State involves measures that are Context. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Universityrepressive Press, 1995, 352 7] 16.Wallace, Paul.as “Political Violence and Terrorism in[1India: The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in often seen a state of terrorism.” Context. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995, 404 17.Wallace, Paul. “Political Violence and Terrorism in India: The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in Context. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995, 352

Exposure to violence has potentially important implications for mental health [18] . This paper presents the findings of the community assessment survey done by Médecins Sans Frontières in 2005. The study, which was done to inform program planning, assessed the mental health and socioeconomic impact of the ongoing violence, and the sources of support. Following excerpts from the Médecins Sans Frontières survey revealed that: Psychological distress was mostly expressed through symptoms such as nervousness, tiredness, being easily frightened and headache (Table 1). The prevalence of suicidal ideation is striking: one-third of those surveyed had had thoughts of ending their life in the past 30 days. Over a third of respondents were categorized as suffering from psychological distress (SRQ ≥ 12) using the Indian validated 18.de Jong J, Komproe IH, van Ommeren M, El Masri M, Araya M, Khaled N, Put W van der, Somasundram D: Lifetime events posttraumatic stress disorder in 4 post effect conflicts settings. SRQ (33.3%, 170; CI:and28.3–38.4). The design for the JAMA 2001, 86:555-562. SRQ was 1.4. Females scored significantly higher (43.8% vs. 24.1%, OR 2.5; CI: 1.7–3.6; p < 0.001).

Feelings of personal insecurity were significantly associated with psychological distress (SRQ ≥ 12) for both males and females (Table 2). Psychological distress among males was significantly (p < 0.01) associated with all self-experiences (defined as 'ever happened to you') and most consequences of violence. Psychological distress among females was significantly (p < 0.01) associated with witnessing events (except hearing about/witnessing rape), as well as the selfexperience of some events (maltreatment, arrested/kidnapped) and feelings of lack of safety and independence.

For both genders, not feeling safe is associated with at least twice the odds of suffering from psychological distress (Table 3). For males, violation of modesty, forced displacement, and disability were all associated with a significantly increased likelihood (three times the odds) of suffering from psychological distress. For women, the witnessing of people being killed or tortured or

The majority of respondents (63.9%, 326) had recently visited a health postor clinic: nearly half had visited a health facility more than once (46.3%, 235) in the past 30 days. Overall, nearly half (49.6%, 253) of respondents rated the health facilities as poor. Women more frequently rated their physical health as bad or very bad (male: 24.1% vs. female: 36.3%, OR 1.8; CI: 1.2–2.6; p < 0.005), and visited the health facilities more than men (male: 40.0% vs. female: 54.7%, OR 1.8; CI: 1.3–2.6; p = 0.005). The number of women who had been on medication for six or more days was significantly higher than men (male: 30.7% vs. female: 46.0%, OR 1.9; CI: 1.3–2.8; p < 0.001). A high level of psychological distress (SRQ ≥ 12) was significantly (p < 0.01) associated with poor or very poor selfrated health for both males (OR 4.4) and females (OR 3.4). For males this was also associated with a higher likelihood of visiting the clinic two times or more (Table 4). For both males and females, high psychological distress was also associated with a higher likelihood of being unable to or having to cut

The most common ways of coping were withdrawal (isolation, not talking to people) and aggression (Table 5). Religion was also reported as a helpful source of support.

It is also concluded that the high levels of violence confronted by the Kashmiri population have resulted in high prevalence (33%) of mental health problems. Poor self-rated health and likelihood of poor socio-economic functioning were associated with high levels of psychological distress. Mental health problems in this context of chronic violence should receive full attention through the provision of appropriate community-based services that would improve access to care and reduce the burden on the health system.

With killings, torture, rapes, molestations, disappearances and detentions becoming the order of the day in Kashmir, psychiatric disorders have seen a sharp increase post-1989. In 1989, about 1,700 patients visited the valley's lone psychiatric hospital and by the year 2003, the number had gone up to 48,000. Before the onset of the armed struggle, certain disorders that were not known to Kashmiris started showing a significant presence amongst the civilian population. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), one of the psychiatric diseases, which was completely unrecognised before 1990 has witnessed a major upsurge. Major Depressive Disorder (MDO) follows this. There are other mental diseases like bipolar disorder, panic, phobia; general anxiety and sleep disorders that have also shown four-fold increase. Substance Use Disorder or drug addiction and suicidal tendencies has been another repercussion of the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. women form a major part of the patients who are suffering from PSTD (almost 50 per cent).

Women have become increasingly suicidal and are resorting to sleeping pills, injections and inhalations [19] . Nearly every person, particularly women, suffer from general anxiety and the uncertainty pertaining to the security of their family members. This always keep them in a state of unrest and anxiety. Even in their houses people are harassed, beaten up or taken into custody by the troops. The fact that the situation doesn't seem to get any better, doesn't promise a better mental state of the civilian population, especially women, in Kashmir.

19.Jaswal SKP: Gynaecological and mental health of low-income urban women in India. In PhD thesis London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; 1995.

HOW CAN THIS John Connon BE? and W. Harrison Childers

Mothers moaning soft and low Sad to see their children go Off to fight the latest foe How can this be? A father bows his head and cries As he begins to realize Sons will fight and sons will die How can this be? We can talk about hatred We can talk aboput war We can talk about killing While we all keep score We can count all the bodies And count them once more How can this be?

Madly plunging into war Marching to the lies once more Who knows what they’re dying It’s thefor? same old trajedy How can this be? What a hollow legacy No one learns from history How can this be? We can talk about hatred We can talk about war We can talk about killing While we all keep score We count them once more How can this be?

Children have to pay the price For debts they do not owe Time and time again they pay The children can’t say no Grieve for every wounded child Sharpenel, mines, and bombs gone wild Innocence and love defiled How can this be? Now this madness all must cease The entire world cries out for peace Sing along and share the dream When will this be? It’s up to you and me.