Elections in Kashmir Kashmir shows that human beings-and international relations-have little to do with rational self-interest. The Indian army squats in a valley that is 95% Muslim while militants periodically infiltrate the predominantly Hindu region of Jammu and kill people. India rigs elections and militants threaten people that don't cooperate. This story from The New York Times highlights the plight of the Kashmiris. My personal solution for Kashmir has been that India unilaterally quit the valley and defend Hindu Jammu and Buddhist Ladakh from elevated strong points. These are regions that want to stay with India in any case. Pakistan would probably role in, but I suspect the Kashmiris of the Vale of Srinigar would prefer the boot of the Pakistani autocracy to the uncircumcised rule of India. Of course, when I've mooted this position publicly in forums, both Pakistanis and Kashmiris have descended upon me, and found a point to agree upon, that what I'm proposing is something that is totally idiotic. Oh well. Here is a excerpt:

Even as separatist leaders have quietly begun to concede that independence is an impossible goal, weary Kashmiris, who feel battered by both sides, say that is all they want. "We want freedom, freedom, not India, not Pakistan," said Abdul Ghani Mir, a resident of Mr. Sofi's Handwara constituency.

Who cares what the people want in the game of princes and presidents.