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What The Kashmiris Want

Way back in 1995, Outlook was the first to commission an independent opinion poll in the troubled valley, which we repeated on our 5th. anniversary. Now almost 2 years later, comes an extensive survey by MORI International which should make Pakistan

  • Fieldwork carried out between 18- 29 April 2002
  • Quotas set by gender and religion, according to the known population profile of the region
  • Data are unweighted
  • An asterisk (*) denotes a figure of less than 0.5% but greater than zero
  • Where percentages do not sum to100%, this is because of computer rounding or multiple responses
  • The base for each question is all respondents interviewed (850) unless otherwise stated

I am conducting a survey for a non-governmental organization about the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir and how to find a long-lasting solution, and I would like to ask you a few questions.

Q1. Thinking about the violence over the last 10 years, do you think Kashmir is now closer to reaching a long-lasting political solution, is it now further from reaching a long-lasting political solution/ or has there been no real change over the last 10 years?

 
%
Closer to a long- lasting political solution
24
Further from a long- lasting political solution
34
No real change
41
Don't Know
1
 

Q2. Overall has Pakistan's involvement in Jammu and Kashmir over the past 10 years been good for the region, bad for the region, or made no real difference?

 

%

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Good
15
Bad
66
No real difference
18
Don't Know
1

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Q3. Do you think Pakistan's involvement in Jammu and Kashmir is or is not ...

 
   
Is
Is Not
Don't Know
(a)
Sincere and based on genuine
concern for Kashmiris
%
31
68
1
(b)
Based on territorial ambition
%
59
39
2
(c)
Based on religious affinity due
to the Muslim character of
the valley
%
84
15
1
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Q4. Do you think the presence of foreign militants in Jammu and Kashmir is helpful to the Kashmir cause, damaging to the Kashmir cause' or neither particularly helpful nor damaging?
 

 
%
Helpful to the Kashmir cause
10
Damaging to the Kashmir cause
65
Neither particularly helpful nor damaging
24
Don't Know
1
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Q5. Do you think human rights violations by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir are widespread occasional or non-existent?

 
%
Widespread
27
Occasional
17
Non-existent
54
Don't know 
2
 

Q6. And do you think human rights violations by militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir are widespread, occasional, or nonexistent?

 
%
Widespread
48
Occasional
16
Non-existent
34
Don't know 2
2
 

Q7. From where do you think the militants in Jammu and Kashmir receive their weapons training and financial resources:? Is it...

 
   
%
From within Jammu and Kashmir
 
 
24
From Pakistan
 
 
57
From Somewhere Else
Includes
 
 
 
United Arab Emirates
3
 
 
Afghanistan
1
 
 
Other Unspecified Countries
1
 
 
America
*
 
 
Iran
*
 
 
Don't Know/Can't Say
11
 
     
16
Don't know
 
 
23
 

Q8. On balance do you agree or disagree with each of these statements about Jammu and Kashmir?

 
   
Agree
Disagree
Don't Know
(a)
The correct way to bring peace to the region is through democratic elections
%
71
28
*
(b)
It is not possible to hold democratic elections while
violence continues
%
65
34
1
(c)
India and Pakistan should go to war in order to find a permanent solution to the situation in Kashmir
%
36
63
1
(d)
A new political party is needed to bring about a
permanent solution in Kashmir
%
53
46
1
(e)
The unique cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir -
Kashmiryat - should be preserved in any long-term
solution
%
81
19
*
 

Q9. I am going to read out some proposals. Please tell me whether you think each one will or will not help to bring peace to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

 
   
Will
Will Not
Don't Know
(a)
The holding of free and fair elections to elect the people's representatives
%
86
14
1
(b)
Direct consultation between the Indian government and the people of Kashmir
%
87
12
1
(c)
People in Jammu and Kashmir having the freedom to travel in both directions across the Line of Control
%
64
35
*
(d)
Displaced Kashmiri Pundits being allowed to return to their homes
%
80
19
1
(e)
People from outside of Kashmir being encouraged to invest in the area to help rebuild Kashmirrs economy and tourist industry
%
74
25
1
(f)
Security forces scaling down their operations in Jammu and Kashmir
%
53
46
1
(g)
An end to militant violence in the region
%
86
10
3
(h)
Economic development of the region to provide more job opportunities and and a reduction in poverty
%
93
6
1
(i)
The banning of television, beauty parlours and cinemas
%
28
71
1
(j)
Stopping infiltration of  militants across the Line of Control
%
88
10
1
 

Q. 10  Do you think Indo-Pakistani dialogue on Kashmir can lead to a positive outcome if held immediately, only when cross border terrorism ends, or not at all?

 
%
Immediately
51
Only when cross-border terrorism ends
36
Not at all
13
Don't Know
*
 

Q.11.  On balance, do you support or oppose each of the following proposals to help lead to a long-term solution to the political situation in Kashmir?

 
   
Support
Oppose
Don't
Know
(a)
India and Pakistan should grant as much autonomy as they can to both sides of Kashmir to govern their own affairs
%
55
44
*
(b)
The borders between Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Indian Kashmir should be opened for much more trade and cultural exchange
%
70
30
*
(c)
There should be a forum in which Kashmiris from both sides of the Line of Control can discuss common interests
%
91
9
*
(d)
The state of Jammu and  Kashmir should be divided on the basis of religion or ethnic group
%
8
92
*
 

Q.12.  On balance, do you support or oppose each of the following organizations?

 
   
Support
Oppose
Don't
Know
 
POLITICAL PARTIES
 
     
(a)
National Conference
%
18
81
*
(b)
Congress
%
29
71
*
(c)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)/CPM
%
2
97
1
(d)
Bhartiya Junta Party - BJP
%
25
75
*
(e)
People's Democratic
Party ~ POP
%
3
96
1
 
RADICAL GROUPS
 
     
(f)
All Party Hurriyat Conference / APHC
%
22
78
*
(g)
Jammu Kashmi Democratic
Freedom Party / JKDFP
%
16
84
*
 
MILITANT GROUPS
 
     
(h)
Hizbul Mujahideen
%
11
67
22
(i)
Any foreign militant groups
(e.g.Lashkar-e-Toiba,
Jalsh-e Mohammad)
%
9
69
22
 

Q. 13.  Do you think you would be better off politically and economically as an Indian citizen or as a Pakistani citizen?

 
%
Indian citizen
61
Pakistani citizen 6
6
Don't Know
33
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