Kashmir is beautiful but Kashmiris are problematic

Last month, I had the pleasure of travelling to Kashmir for the first time in my life. I left for Kashmir on 11 April and spent the next seven days in what is perhaps the most beautiful place in the country. However, I cannot say the same about its people. Kashmir is beautiful but Kashmiris are problematic. No doubt, the scenic beauty of the place catches your imagination but the attitude of the people leaves a lot to be desired. Firstly, they sound more like Afghans than Indians. Poverty, unemployment is rampant and tourism is the only source of income. But that doesn’t mean that they simply loot the tourists. Every person is merely out to loot you. The rickshaw and cart drivers connive with the shopkeepers. After all, they get commission from their preferred shopkeepers. And if you happen to visit any shop, there the owner will caution you against visiting rival shopkeepers. That apart what really shocked me was the anti-Indian attitude of the locals. Some of them didn’t hesitate in declaring that they supported Pakistan. They used words like ‘aapka Shimla, aapka Punjab’. Gosh! I was made to feel like a foreigner in my own country. I don’t think there’s single Hindu resident in Kashmir. They do come as tourists but all Kashmiri pundits have been driven away. So much so for the locals, but the sight of our countless security men made me feel comfortable. Critics often blast the presence of heavy military but we need them for our security. Infiltration increases during these months and our jawans have to be on their toes every time. While on board a cable car, I spotted small huts on the icy mountains. They belong to our soldiers. Our poor jawans guard these mountains 24 X 7. No praise can be too high for our jawans. If it wasn’t for them we would have long lost Kashmir to the enemy