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

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 31 May 2002 12:00 am

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?

	%

Good15Bad66No real difference18Don't Know1



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



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



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