Though there have been numerous peace initiatives, what has
remained constant in the Kashmir valley is the uncertain nature
of peace. Peace in Kashmir remains fragile and even the smallest
altercation takes a political or communal shade resulting in
prolonged unrest. Why is the peace so fragile and unsustainable
in the valley? The Fragile peace Normal life in the valley came
to a standstill on 25 June 2012 due to the fire that broke out
at the Sufi shrine, Dastgeer Sahab in Srinagar. The Bandh called
by the separatist faction paralyzed life across the state.
Restrictions and undeclared curfew were imposed by the police,
and paramilitary forces were deployed in large numbers across
the city to prevent protests. Despite restrictions, stone
pelting incidents and mass protests were reported from various
places across the valley. The state government’s decision to put
the entire old city under undeclared curfew for five consecutive
days and people’s reaction to the incident have reiterated the
trust deficit that e