The relationship between Delhi and J&K continues to suffer from a significant trust and credibility deficit. While the Indian state must take the lead in rebuilding trust, other institutions—political parties, civil society, the media, and chambers of commerce and industry—must also act as catalysts for peace and development. The J&K elections in 2024 kickstarted discussions on issues of identity, dignity, and development, but these were short-circuited due to a lack of political will. A renewed social contract between Delhi and J&K is essential for long-term stability.
The existing arrangement is perceived as asymmetrical, where some groups and citizens are seen as more influential than others. There is a danger that politics, both as an institution and as a master activity, may lose its way if the political grid is not resurrected. Some of the key issues significant for normalising politics in J&K are discussed below.
Prominence of the Political Grid
Restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is central to rebuilding trust and credibility in Union–J&K relations. The Union government has reiterated its commitment to restoring statehood on several occasions, and the newly elected Assembly has passed a resolution to that effect. In a separate note attached to the judgment on Article 370, Justice Sanjay Hegde expressed the view that the “demotion of the state to a Union Territory was unconstitutional and should be summarily reversed.”
To be realistic, in an era of excessive centralisation and a neoliberal economy marked by capital scarcity, even complete statehood will not, by itself, resolve all the problems confronting J&K. Noted economist Haseeb Drabu opines that “even if statehood is restored, manna is not going to fall from heaven. The actors will change, but actions will remain the same.”
Nevertheless, statehood would provide greater political space to parties, political leaders, and local governance institutions, ensuring deeper participation and accountability in the democratic process. Kashmiris have already sent a strong signal in Pahalgam that terrorism is no longer acceptable, and there is no reason for Jammu and Kashmir to remain what sociologists describe as a “limited-access society,” where power is concentrated and exercised through elite bargains.
The subordinate governance structure has given rise to a “strange invisible baradari system,” fostering patronage and clientelist networks. A recent report by the Concerned Citizens Group, led by Yashwant Sinha, observes that “the existing structure of governance resembles the colonial-type diarchy of 1919–20, under which the British denied political power to elected governments of states in India.” Clearly, the path to normal politics lies through a strengthened political grid with robust accountability mechanisms.
Empowering the Youth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often described the youth of Jammu and Kashmir as brilliant and full of potential. They must be made integral to the story of a rising India. The new generation can serve as innovators, thinkers, and change-makers—provided they are given opportunity, support, and sustained hand-holding.
Over the past five years, the youth have experienced a mix of ambition, shock, humiliation, and a yearning for dignity. Kashmir’s proximity to the heroin-producing Golden Crescent—Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran—makes it particularly vulnerable to drug trafficking. Therefore, youth aspirations must be prioritised.
As a short-term measure, the 32,000 vacancies in various government departments should be filled to provide employment opportunities. This would also help build the administrative capacity of the state. Second, today’s economy values ideas over physical assets; digital platforms have replaced traditional power centres. An enabling ecosystem that provides protection, planning, and opportunities in the sunrise sectors of the new economy is vital to productively channel youthful energy.
Larry Page was only 25 when he co-founded Google, and Mark Zuckerberg was not even twenty when he founded Facebook. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said that while we cannot always build the future for our youth, we can build the youth for the future.
Preserving Identity
A majority of Kashmiris yearn for peace and normalcy in their everyday lives. They seek political accommodation within the Indian Union that respects their cultural and historical identity. The urge for a distinct Jammu identity is equally strong and deserves reinforcement. The region’s syncretic traditions can serve as a foundation for sustainable peace and reconciliation.
Non-elected institutions—whether political or otherwise—are often perceived as exhibiting majoritarian and authoritarian biases. A robust political articulation of Kashmiri identity, anchored in democracy, culture, and self-respect, remains key to bridging divides. In the past, the Centre successfully leveraged democratic processes—in 1975 and 1996—to rebuild trust. The current leadership must go the extra mile to remove lingering strains.
Regional Discontent
Deep political divisions between Kashmir and Jammu continue to hinder the emergence of a shared state identity. Politics in both regions often remains narrow, insular, and parochial, as reflected in recent Assembly election results. Surveys indicate that both regions strongly support the restoration of statehood, even though they differ in their assessment of the Centre’s performance.
Earlier, the government claimed to have saved ₹200 crore by ending the Darbar Move, but traders in Jammu reported losses exceeding ₹500 crore due to the same decision. There is a need to balance and right-size regional development. While regional divides can undermine the unity of J&K as a political entity, sub-regional feelings of deprivation and discrimination cannot be ignored.
A high-powered, non-partisan committee should be constituted to examine post-2019 regional and sub-regional grievances. This is significant because almost every decision concerning Jammu and Kashmir becomes controversial. At the political level, all parties should formulate J&K-specific and region-specific election manifestos for future elections. This would help raise awareness of regional and sub-regional issues. Some political parties have already adopted such practices in large states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Climate and Environment
Jammu and Kashmir’s development must be climate-sensitive and environmentally responsible. Local institutions should have greater control over natural resources, economic planning, and conservation. The region has witnessed an alarming rise in natural disasters—torrential rains, floods, heatwaves, and more than 300 forest fires in 2024 alone.
Tourism-driven development, while profitable, has often ignored ecological realities. Experts advocate a shift from industrial subsidies and mass tourism towards an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) model of growth that balances environmental sustainability with social and economic needs.
Recent observations by the Supreme Court on development in Himachal Pradesh hold important lessons. The Court noted that revenue generation is not everything and held the people of Himachal Pradesh partly responsible for ecological disasters. Constructing roads and highways in geologically fragile and seismically vulnerable mountains poses serious risks. Deforestation, excavation, tunnelling with explosives, and dumping debris into rivers and streams are matters of grave concern.
Reviving the Economy
Reviving Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is essential for social stability and inclusive growth. Fewer strikes and shutdowns in recent years have improved the business climate, boosting confidence in tourism and trade. Yet the region remains heavily dependent on central finances. Despite rising local revenues, J&K continues to suffer from capital scarcity and limited growth potential.
The economy is export-oriented, import-intensive, and largely agrarian, resulting in persistent capital outflows. Meanwhile, unemployment remains alarmingly high, and youth frustration is mounting—further aggravated by debates over reservations and job opportunities. The economy requires a comprehensive reset that promotes entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods. A large section of the population lives with a sense of precarity rather than prosperity. In light of the above, there is an urgent need for “political listening” and the resolution of the problems facing J&K, which many describe as the “crown of India.”
Conclusion
The time has come to move beyond rhetoric and symbolism. A new social contract—between Delhi and J&K, and also between Jammu and Srinagar—must be based on mutual trust, political accommodation, and economic empowerment. The state must renegotiate the social contract, defined as the formal and informal rules governing how the state and citizens behave, interact, and fulfil obligations toward one another.
Restoring statehood, engaging youth, respecting identity, reconciling regional aspirations, and ensuring environmental sustainability together form the foundation for lasting peace and progress. Only through shared commitment and inclusive governance can Jammu and Kashmir truly become a model of hope, dignity, and development within the Indian Union. This can also pave the way for Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, and Kashmiryat. Surely, paths are made by walking, not waiting.
Professor Gull Mohammad Wani is a Kashmir-based political scientist.