The on-going turmoil in Kashmir is commonly, although largely mistakenly,perceived as essentially a religious conflict, a violent and deadly'communal' confrontation between Hindus and Muslims. Key players in theconflict, including, on the one hand, Islamist groups such as theLashkar-i-Tayyeba, and, on the other, Hindu chauvinist groups such as theVishwa Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, see the conflictas representing a religious war, a jihad or a dharam yudh, a grand strugglebetween the forces of good and evil, variously defined.