The obscure Kashmiris in the Kashmir conflict: Analysing the 1990 Kashmiri refugees

Abstract

Following the1990 insurgency in the Valley of Kashmir, thousands of Kashmiris crossed the Line of Control and fled to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where they are presently living as refugees. This essay examines the complicated nature of the Kashmir issue that sets these Kashmiri refugees apart from conventional refugees. For better understanding, a comparison is drawn between them and other past and present refugees of South Asia. Despite their arrival in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) almost 30 years ago, they are still living in camps. This essay analyses the major problems faced by the refugees in camps: housing, employment, education and subsistence allowance. The paper attempts to explore reasons for the continued dismal living conditions of these refugees.