National Highway 1A, the only road connecting Kashmir to rest of the country, often gets blocked and puts commuters to extreme hardships. At a number of locations, it’s little better than a patchwork of mud and rocks. It summarises the apathy of the rest of India toward the northern state.

Now that India has appropriately responded to Pakistan after the Pulwama attack, it is time to look at Kashmir problem. Is it possible for peace to be achieved, if Kashmiri youth continue to feel alienated? With all efforts made to “eliminate” militants, there has been no focus on stopping the radicalisation of young men.

Back in the ’90s, those who joined the Kashmir militancy were mostly uneducated, marginalised men. But the rise of educated militants like Adil Ahmad Dar has ushered in a new phase in the militancy, and the stark contrast from the ’90s cannot be overlooked.

The abuse faced by Dangal actor Zaira Wasim is a reminder of Kashmir's struggle with freedom of expression. This struggle reflects in its silent cinemas, shuttered since 1989.