Assertion of Identity Politics in Jammu & Kashmir

The regional analysis of the popular political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir State is based on a ''cause and effect'' relationship. There is no consensus among the people living in different regions of the state with respect to their political future. They stand divided along the regional, religious and ethno lines. Considering the physical and social diversity of the state, its spatial and cultural ties with its neighbouring countries, any effort to make Jammu and Kashmir either an independent country or a part of Pakistan or a part of India will not be acceptable to the people of the state entirely. In order to find a permanent solution to the Kashmir crisis, the people of all regions need to be consulted by both the countries, to ascertain their regional aspirations. More importantly the people of the state need to be allowed to have inter - ethnic, inter - religious and inter - regional dialogue to develop consensus to fulfill the mutually antagonistic political aspirations of the people living in different regions of the state. The state needs a multi- layered package of autonomy that extends beyond the state to the regional and sub- regional levels.