{
  "id": 13845764,
  "title": "Kashmir has found its way back to everyday life. Can it find peace?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/kashmir-has-found-its-way-back-to-everyday-life-can-it-find-peace",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T01:45:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kashmir-has-found-its-way-back-to-everyday-life-can-it-find-peace-10917260/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 14-year-old from Chandigarh marveled at the beauty of Pahalgam, describing it as a memory he will cherish forever. His mother, however, found the place scenic yet eerie, aware of the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre. The young traveler's perspective was untouched by history, while his mother's was not. In 2004, Srinagar felt like a city under siege, with armored vehicles and armed soldiers dominating the streets. Yet, inside homes, young people spoke of a different future, including the construction of a rail link to Jammu and the desire for their children to receive education elsewhere.\n\nA young doctor at the Lal Ded maternity hospital longed for peace, while a carpet dealer expressed his wish to see his son play national cricket. Yet, not everyone supported such aspirations, with some people opposing the railway, claiming it would \"violate the purity of the Valley.\" Insurgent threats and security measures remained prevalent, causing concern among the population.\n\nDespite the ongoing conflict, the everyday life in Kashmir had begun to shift. The inauguration of the Vande Bharat train from Jammu to Srinagar had transformed the journey, reducing it from a long and uncertain travel to a mere five-hour ride. The railway project, conceived under Maharaja Pratap Singh in the late 19th century, finally became a reality after nearly three decades of construction, featuring 36 tunnels, 943 bridges, and the highest railway arch bridge in the world. Tourist arrivals to the region had also increased, reaching nearly 98 lakh in the Kashmir division and 2.36 crore across J&K in 2024. The city of Srinagar, which had become deserted after dark, now boasted over 200 cafés and a cinema multiplex.\n\nHowever, deep-rooted tensions persisted, with heated debates surrounding full statehood and the restoration of Article 370. The Lieutenant Governor still held significant influence over the bureaucracy and police, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remained in force, although security was no longer intrusive. The region still faced challenges such as land frauds, delimitation issues, electoral roll problems, and drug-related problems.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "14-year-old from Chandigarh marveled at Pahalgam's beauty, unaware of April 2025 massacre.",
    "Srinagar felt like a city under siege in 2004, now hosts over 200 cafés and cinema.",
    "Railway project completed, reducing travel time to five hours, but tensions persist."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}