Kashmiri Pandits Amid Conflict-induced Displacement: Facts, Issues, and the Future Ahead

Abstract

This article reviews the discourse surrounding the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) in 1990 and the challenges they face in  returning to the Kashmir Valley. The displacement of KPs has been a longstanding issue, and the community has faced several  challenges. Many of them have not been able to return to their homes in the Kashmir Valley, and their displacement has become  protracted. As a result, they are neither treated as refugees nor provided with any international assistance, which leaves them in a  situation where they must rely on relief efforts or support provided by their own country of origin. This article sheds light on the  displacement of KPs by reviewing the various determinants of their decision to flee violence in the backdrop of armed insurgency. It  shows explicitly how the displacement was not a sudden event but a process that took place over a period of time. Various socio-political  and economic factors contributed to their displacement, including the rise of militancy in the 1990s, discriminatory policies towards the  minority community, and the lack of effective protection and support from state authorities. These factors led to a growing sense of fear  and insecurity among the KPs, culminating in their mass migration in 1990. The author emphasises the need for a balanced approach  toward KPs’ return migration. The article suggests that the solution to the issue of KPs’ return migration requires a multifaceted  approach that allows for the concerns and aspirations of all parties involved, including the KPs, the Muslim community, and the  government.