Kashmiri teens: forgotten victims. (World).

Some people say that Kashmir is cursed because God gave it so much natural beauty. For centuries, poets and conquerors alike called,the land "paradise on Earth."

Surrounded by the Himalaya mountains, Kashmir is a patchwork of sun-drenched cornfields, purple saffron hills, and shikaras (slim boats) plying the Dal Lake.

But for most Kashmiris, life is dangerous. Who knows which grove of trees hides Islamic militants (rebels)? And who knows when Indian soldiers will surround a village in search of such rebels?

Two neighboring countries are struggling for control of Kashmir: Pakistan and India. The largest number of Kashmiris are Muslims, like most people in Pakistan. But many Kashmiris are Hindus, as are most people in India. The two countries have waged two full-fledged wars and one border conflict over Kashmir, and fighting continues today.

Violence came to Jan Mohammad Dar's village of Nihama one sunny day last spring. "It was early morning," 12-year-old Jan recalls, "when the (Indian] Army imposed a crackdown." Armed forces surrounded the village so that no one could enter or leave.

Soldiers then bombed a house harboring (hiding) suspected Islamic.militanrs, killing all four people inside. Afterward, Jan and his friends explored the area, and found a hard, green ball. One of the boys poked the object, which turned out to be a hand grenade.

"Suddenly, there was a fiery explosion, and I felt I was being lifted and flung (into the air]," says Jan. "My eyes began burning, and I felt something very hot below my knee."

Curiosity had cost Jan his left leg. But he was lucky. His friend died instantly.

Seventeen-year-old Archana Raina will never forget what happened to her family 12 years ago. One night her mother woke her from a sound sleep. Islamic militants had invaded their village of Tanmarg.

Archana's parents bundled up Archana and her baby sister and put them into a truck. Under the cover of darkness, the Rainas left a home that had belonged to their family for seven generations.

Archana and her family are members of a Hindu community known as Kashmiri Pandits. Islamic militants attacked the community throughout the 1990s, forcing many people to flee their homes.

Decades of Conflict

With a population of about seven million, Kashmir has three distinct ethnic and geographic sections. The Vale (valley) is mostly Muslim, Jammu is mostly Hindu, and Ladakh is predominately Buddhist (see map, p.11).

Located in the northern reaches of the Indian subcontinent, Kashmir is valued by India and Pakistan for its strategic (useful in war) location and its natural beauty. The state, which is known officially as Jammu and Kashmir, is a popular tourist destination for many people in the region.

Conflict in the area goes back to 1947, when India gained independence from British colonial rule. (See pp. 12-14.) Bowing to the pressures of some Muslim leaders, the British agreed to partition (divide) India into Muslim-controlled Pakistan and Hindu-dominated India.

After the partition, Kashmir's Hindu ruler signed his power over to India, but this angered Pakistan. In 1948, India and Pakistan went to war over Kashmir.

After more than five decades of conflict, Kashmir's status still has not been resolved. To complicate matters, China has occupied some northeastern parts of Kashmir since the early 1960s.

In the 1990s, the situation took yet another dangerous turn. Young Kashmiri Muslims, supported by Pakistan, began to join radical Islamic groups. These groups demanded either union with Pakistan or independence for Kashmir. To force India to recognize their demands, these fighters attacked both Hindus and the Indian army in Kashmir. In the past 13 years, an estimated 60,000 people have died in combat.

A New Generation

All this history means little to Jan, who after six months in the hospital, has returned home without a leg.

Jan's father is a farmer. He owns two acres of land on which he grows rice and wheat. Already, he has spent $2,000 on his son's medical treatment.

"I have three daughters," Jan's father says. "How will I get them married off and look after my crippled son?"

But Jan, who will soon be fitted with an artificial leg, is more hopeful. During his breakfast of kawha (Kashmiri tea) and bread, he talks about his career options.

"I know I won't be able to do physical work," he says, "so I have to study hard. I want to become a computer engineer.

For the past decade, Archana and her family have lived in a refugee camp with 5,000 other people. The camp is crowded and dirty, but at least the Rainas feel safe there.

Now in the 11th grade, Archana has one more year of school. After-wards, she plans to study secretarial skills at a school set up by camp authorities. "It is best that I start earning [money] as soon as possible," she says, "so that I can help my family move out of here."

Archana's mother smiles approvingly. Last week she sold her deghor (long, threaded earrings that Kashmiri Pandit women wear as a sign that they are married). The money will help her daughters have a better future.

The only other option is to return to their home in the Vale, and make their living from the walnut orchards. But they don't know if they would be safe there.

Last summer, India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, came close to a full-scale war over Kashmir. International pressure, including a strong push for peace from the U.S., prevented a catastrophe (disaster). But tensions remain high.

Still, there are some signs of hope. In October, Kashmiris elected new, moderate leaders. Unlike previous elections, this one was conducted fairly.

Although no one expects the fighting to end soon, Jan and Archana are looking to the future with optimism.

"I believe that my generation will rise and prove themselves," says Archana.

As for Jan, who says that losing his leg will make him "study harder," life is just beginning.

THINK ABOUT IT

Who do you think should control Kashmir? Why?


Your Turn
WORD MATCH
1. militant     A. useful for war
2. harbor       B. divide
3. strategic    C. rebel
4. partition    D. hide
5. catastrophe  E. disaster

1. C

2. D

3. A

4. B

5. E

RELATED ARTICLE: Kashmir.

Kashmir is a region claimed by both India and Pakistan. The two countries have fought three wars over the area. India rules southern Kashmir, officially known as Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan rules the territories called Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. China has occupied parts of eastern Kashmir since 1962.

FACTS TO KNOW

AREA: 85,806 square miles, about the size of Utah.

POPULATION: 7,718,700; India rules about 75% of the population.

CAPITALS: The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is Srinagar; the winter capital is Jammu.

LAND: More than 90% of Kashmir is mountainous.

PEOPLE: About 66% of the people are Muslims; 30% are Hindus; the rest are Buddhists and Sikhs.

ECONOMY: Most people earn a living from farming, growing rice, corn, wheat, and barley. The famous cashmere wool is the product of goats raised in the region.

QUESTIONS

1. Which country controls the state of Jammu and Kashmir?

India

2. What is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir in the winter?

Jammu

3. What is the distance in miles from Srinagar to the capital of Pakistan?

About 120 miles

4. What is the religion of most of the people in Kashmir?

Islam

5. How do most people in Kashmir earn a living?

Farming

6. Which country borders Kashmir on the east?

China

7. Which three rivers flow from Kashmir through Pakistan?

The Chenab, Indus, and Jhelum rivers

8. Which three countries claim parts of Kashmir?

China, India, and Pakistan

9. What is the capital of India?

New Dehli

10. What city is closest to 34[degrees]N, 75[degrees]E?

Srinagar