Kashmir activists don't see guns as the answer

The struggle is deeper than just this article suggests. It does not even touch the Indian side. If there could possibly be a free state of Kashmir without Pakistan interfering and taking it over, then it might be a consideration. The U.S. President John F. Kennedy didn't like Cuba so close with missiles pointed at him in the 60's. Indians don't like the idea of a hostile state in their backyard either. Furthermore, ask Kashmiris if they like the idea of Sharia law vs. relative Indian freedom and you will see them change their minds. You may ask "Indian freedom, what do you mean? It's more like a prison camp right now!" Yes...but when people calm down the Indian authorities relax too and tourism comes back like last year. So, one would love to see an independent state but at what cost? Kashmir is one of those geographical areas, like Poland, that throughout history has changed hands and been fought over. Unfortunately, people are greedy and don't consider the damage to the land itself with all this fighting and pilgrimage by Hindus to see an ice cicle made holy only a few decades ago. What I'm trying to say is..collectively as a Kashmiri people -center on the important things like education for your children, clean water, freedom of religion and personal freedoms to co-exist NOT fighting over toilets for Hindus coming on a pilgrimage. When you do, people will come alongside and say, yes...why not an independent state here? The first governed by an independent council that has no political-religious agenda. Not run by either Pakistan or India. This will not be easy, but over time you might be able to demonstrate this to both sides and ask for UN intervention if Pakistani militants continue to come in and bomb and snipe at people. The real issue will be if Muslim extremists can be kept in-check by their own people from raiding and causing such turmoil. If the people want independence bad enough, it might work. But so far it hasn't and India is not about to let Pakistan annex the land for themselves.