A major clash between Indian Security Forces and militants occurred when a group of insurgents tried to infiltrate into the Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan in July 2005. The same month, also saw Kashmiri terrorist attack on Ayodhya and Srinagar. However, these developments had little impact on the peace process. The mood on both sides of the border finally seems to be moving beyond a half-century of confrontations.

Re-evaluation

The insurgents who initially started their movement as a pro-Kashmiri independence movement, have gone through a lot of change in their ideology. Most of the insurgents potray their struggle as a religious one.

Indian analysts allege that by supporting these insurgents, Pakistan is trying to wage a proxy war against New Delhi while Islamabad claims that it regards most of these insurgent groups as “freedom fighters” rather than militants.

Internationally known to be the most deadly theatre of conflict, nearly 50 million, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have been fighting a daily battle for survival. The cross-border firing between India and Pakistan, and the terrorist attacks combined have taken its toll on the Kashmiris, who have suffered by losing their economic growth and human rights in the process over the years. Kashmir was once known as the Paradise on Earth. Today, it’s called The Burning Paradise.

Films and Books

Indian Films
Mission Kashmir - by Vidhu Vinod Chopra; focuses on the mental state of a Kashmiri militant.
Roja - is a movie about a civilian taken hostage by insurgents in Kashmir.
The Hero - Sunny Deol plays the role of an Indian spy whose aim is to stop a Kashmiri insurgent group from obtaining nuclear bombs.
Dil Se - The clash between love and ideology is portrayed in this love story between a radio executive and a beautiful suicide bomber; starring Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala.
Sheen - Based on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits or Hindus, made homeless refugees in their own state by the insurgents.
Kashmeer - by Suhail Tatari; revolves around the relationship between a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy residing in the troubled Kashmir region.
Zameen - by Rohit Shetty; based on the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 by Kashmiri militants
Yahaan - A love story of an idealistic Indian army soldier and a local Kashmiri girl.

Books
The Kashmir Question: Retrospect and Prospect - by Sumit Ganguly
South Asia in the World: Problem solving perspectives on security, sustainable development, and good governance - by Oddny Wiggen and Ramesh Chandra Thakur
The New Terrorism: Fanaticism and arms of mass destruction - by Walter Laqueur
Kashmir: Beyond the vale — by M J Akbar