Will India Treat Kashmir Like Israel Has Gaza?

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This decision was made on behalf of Kashmiris, not in consultation with them. Speaking with Kashmiris in 2020 as part of my ongoing research on the region, there was a huge sense of betrayal at the move.

One of my interview subjects claimed Indian security forces were“instilling fear and psychological warfare” in Kashmir. Another said,“it's no exaggeration to say after every three kilometres, there's a checkpoint” manned by Indian security forces. The situation worsened during the Covid pandemic, with increased lockdowns and curfews.

Some hope did return last September when Kashmiris were able to vote in regional assembly elections for the first time in a decade.

The election meant the new local assembly would have the power to make and amend laws, debate local issues and approve decisions for the territory, particularly in education and culture. However, this doesn't mean“normalcy” had returned, nor was Kashmir peaceful and tranquil .

In February of this year, there were reports that Indian security forces had conducted operations against suspected militants, resulting in a lockdown and 500 people being detained. A young Kashmiri man died by suicide after allegedly being tortured by police in February. The next day, another man was shot dead by the army.

These are just two incidents that are part of a wider cycle of violence that has become a part of everyday life in Kashmir.

Life after April 22

After the April 22 tourist attack, the central government has doubled down on its heavy-handed approach to Kashmir under the guise of counter-terrorism.

Kashmiris have been subjected to an increased security presence, new lockdowns,“cordon and search operations”, social media surveillance, house demolitions and other draconian measures.

Police say some 1,900 Kashmiris have been detained and questioned since the attack. This number will no doubt continue to rise.

It is no wonder Kashmiris were saying“everyone lives in fear”, even before India launched missile strikes on its neighbor. Possible retaliation from Pakistan – or a wider war – now looms, with Kashmiris again on the front lines.

There is a very big concern that right-wing Indian media outlets and social media posts are now encouraging the Indian government to respond to the terror attack in the same way Israel has retaliated against Hamas in Gaza.

Some commentators are portraying the April 22 attack as India's version of the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which could become a dangerous precedent for what the future holds for Kashmir.