The recent statement by Omar Abdullah, claiming that peace in Jammu and Kashmir is not organic, has sparked a heated debate. On the other hand, the BJP asserts that peace has prevailed and is organic. As a representative of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, which has endured immense suffering for over three decades, the Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) believes that the reality of peace in Kashmir is far more complex than either of these political narratives suggest.

While visible signs of normalcy—such as a decline in stone-pelting, a surge in tourism, and improved security measures—indicate a shift from the past, it would be misleading to declare that complete organic peace has emerged. The question remains: can peace be truly organic when the Kashmiri Pandit community remains in exile? How can we call it organic when terrorists continue to infiltrate across the border, when our brave security forces still sacrifice their lives due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and when encounters and targeted killings continue to remind us that the terror machinery is still active?

The ground realities paint a grim picture. Cross-border terrorism has not stopped, and targeted killings of Hindus and non-Muslims continue. Infiltration attempts by Pakistan-backed terrorists remain a serious threat, and security forces frequently engage in encounters, losing precious lives in the process. The so-called silence in Kashmir does not necessarily mean acceptance of India or rejection of separatist ideology. The fear of law and security forces may have suppressed open radicalism, but has the mindset truly changed?

The suffering of Kashmiri Pandits remains a stark contrast to the claims of complete peace. Decades have passed, yet our community has not been given the rightful opportunity to return and resettle safely in our ancestors land as per our choice and will. Our lands, orchards, and homes have been illegally occupied under draconian laws, distress sales, and encroachments, and justice remains elusive. Land records have been tampered with, properties forcibly taken over, and the illegal occupants continue to enjoy their gains without fear of the law. Those who burnt our homes, looted our properties, and drove us out remain unpunished, their crimes conveniently buried under political narratives that suit different dispensations.

The injustice does not stop there. Over 20,000 government jobs left vacant when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee were systematically filled by the kith and kin of separatist sympathizers, political loyalists, and fundamentalists under successive governments. Even today, there is no serious effort to restore these opportunities to the rightful displaced community. The so-called employment package for Kashmiri Pandits is nothing but a joke, as many of those who returned under the scheme live in constant fear, facing life-threatening situations and harsh working conditions in the Valley.

No structured rehabilitation plan has neither been put in place nor our plan and proposal submitted to the Government has been sincerely debated and discussed.No compensation has been provided for lost homes, businesses, and livelihoods, and no legal action has been taken against those responsible for our genocide and exodus. The properties of thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits continue to remain in the illegal possession of land grabbers, political mafias, and religious fundamentalists. Even our temples and religious institutions have not been spared, many of them desecrated and illegally occupied.

Given these ground realities, the Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) maintains a balanced stance on this so-called organic peace. We do not fully agree with Omar Abdullah’s statement that peace is not organic because it undermines the real progress made in tackling terrorism and stabilizing Kashmir. However, at the same time, we cannot endorse the BJP’s claim that peace in Kashmir is fully organic. Peace cannot be declared complete while an entire community remains in forced exile, their lands occupied, their tormentors unpunished, and their fundamental rights denied.

For peace to be truly organic, it must include justice for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. This means a consolidated and secure land to live for Kashmiri Pandits within the Valley, under the full writ of the Indian Constitution. It means restoring our properties, land, and religious places, along with fair compensation for our losses. It requires bringing to justice those who were responsible for the killings, destruction, and forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. It demands the return of the stolen 20,000 jobs and ensuring economic rehabilitation for displaced youth. Above all, it requires a long-term plan to ensure the safety and security of Kashmir so that another exodus never happens again.

Until these demands are met, peace will remain incomplete, inorganic, and fragile. We urge the government to take serious steps toward the rehabilitation and justice of Kashmiri Pandits consolidatedly at one place and warn against political gimmicks—whether from the National Conference, PDP, or any other party—that seek to manipulate the Kashmir peace narrative for electoral gains.

Peace is not just the absence of violence; it is the presence of justice, dignity, and rightful restoration. Until the displaced Kashmiri Pandits are resettled as per their choice and with full rights, no leader—whether from BJP, NC, or PDP—can claim that peace in Kashmir is truly organic.

“Jai Hind,Jai Kashyap Bhoomi “

[Kundan Kashmiri]
Kashmir Watcher, Senior KP Leader & President, Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC)
Mobile: 8802267955
Email: kundankashmiri@gmail.com