aggression breeds patriotism,

and patriotism curbs dissent.”

Maureen Dowd, “The Iceman

Cometh,” 2003
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF
KASHMIR CONFLICT AND
PEACEMAKING
CONFLI PEACE
CT 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
CONFLI PEACE
CT 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
CONFLI 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
CT 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 Millions of individuals today are refugees from
state terror and communal fighting; they live in
CT 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 PEACEMAKI
 Communication NG
 Conciliation

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
UNFINISH
invariable state of war on Kashmir Conflict and ED
went for three deadly wars to claim Kashmir. BUSINESS
The tremendous drain of resources incurred by
the two countries on military buildup and OF
arms-race including the acquisition of nuclear PARTITIO
bombs is a result of their confrontation over
Kashmir. The official propaganda each
N
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
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.’
 The State of Jammu and Kashmir is situated
KASHMIR between 32.17 degree and 36.58-degree north
--- latitude and 37.26 degree and 80.30-degree east
HISTORY longitude; the total area of the State of Jammu
and Kashmir is 22,22,236 square kilometers. The
AND geography of the Kashmir valley, stretches for
GEOGRAPHY 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, low-
lying 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
altitude and mountainous geography. [1]
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
R T
BIRTH
OF After Indian Independence in 1947, the ruler of the princely
state of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, refused to accede to
KASHMI either India or Pakistan. When Pakistan invaded Kashmir in
the following year, the ruler of Kashmir sought help from the
R Indian government and agreed to place Kashmir under the
CONFLIC 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
T 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
3. parks, rolling meadows, spectacular mountains and scenic
http://www.kashmirhub.com/history-of-kashmir/history-of-kashmir-after-1947.html
destinations with nostalgia. [3]
 ISSU
E
KASHMI CONFLIC
R T
PSYCHOLOGIC Psychological and emotional injuries may
AL be the most enduring effects of major
conflicts between nations in the present
IMPACTS era, yet historically, they may be the least
OF addressed in terms of rebuilding a society
KASHMIR and preventing violence. In recent world
conflicts, terrorism has been purposely
CONFLICT utilized against civilians as a means of
ON attacking the self-esteem and morale of
“the enemy,” as well as simple retribution.
KASHMIRIS 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. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6033383.stm
2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/06/wafghan06.xml
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/world/asia/21quetta.html
4. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7D81F3EF936A15751C0A9649C8B63
5. 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
10.Reich, an atmosphere
(editor). Origins ofof widespread
Terrorism: discontent.
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
activities.”
13.Fai, [16]
Ghulam Nabi. It isfairin
“Free, this incontext
elections that the
Kashmir” Commentary. concept Times:
The Washington of political
Sunday
September 15, 2002, B5.
terrorism can
14.Wallace, Paul. be best
“Political understood.
Violence In Kashmir,
and Terrorism in India: The Crisis of political terrorism
Identity” in Terrorism in is
largely characterized
Context. Pennsylvania: by “movements
The Pennsylvania State Universityof political
Press, 1995, 352violence directed
15.Wallace, Paul. “Political Violence and Terrorism in India: The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in
against the state,The
Context. Pennsylvania: and in turn,State
Pennsylvania involves
Universityrepressive
Press, 1995, 352measures that are
often seen
16.Wallace, Paul.as a state
“Political of terrorism.”
Violence and Terrorism in[1India:
7] The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in
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 socio-
economic 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,
SRQ (33.3%,
Somasundram 170;
D: Lifetime CI:and28.3–38.4).
events The
posttraumatic stress design
disorder in 4 post effect for the
conflicts settings.
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 self-
experience 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 self-
rated 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
BE? and W.
John Connon
Harrison Childers
Mothers moaning soft and low Madly plunging into war
Sad to see their children go Marching to the lies once
Off to fight the latest foe more
How can this be? Who knows what they’re
dying
It’s thefor?
same old trajedy
A father bows his head and cries
How can this be?
What a hollow legacy
As he begins to realize
Sons will fight and sons will die No one learns from history
How can this be? How can this be?
We can talk about hatred We can talk about hatred
We can talk aboput war We can talk about war
We can talk about killing We can talk about killing
While we all keep score While we all keep score
We can count all the bodies We count them once more
And count them once more How can this be?
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.