The delay in the implementation of the Mughal Road Project has started agitating many minds in the valley. Some of the main stream parties have alleged that the delay is deliberate but they have failed to pin point the reasons for the deliberate delay. As usual they have failed to call a spade a spade. On the face of it the Government has given out that the delay has been caused by Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court of India alleging that the proposed road passes through a Wild Life Sanctuary and is as such an environmental hazard. This does not seem a very plausible excuse to delay such an important project. There seem to be some other reasons for the delay. Already there are many instances where for “Security Reasons”; the concerned agencies have not even bothered to consult the competent authorities for undertaking similar projects. The Border Roads Organisation has constructed a number of strategic roads in border areas without even bothering to inform various departments of the State Government. A road has been constructed from the military area in Gulmarg to Apharwat top and beyond to Jamian Wali Gali. There is another road going right up to Tosa Maidan. A road has been constructed to the top of the mountain behind the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar. The road goes right up to the top of Zabarwan peaks. Recently a road has been constructed connecting Tulail valley with Drass through Mushko Valley. The Amarnath Shrine Board has got a road constructed from Baltal to Amarnath Cave in spite of the opposition of the State Forest Department. There are many other similar instances where environment, forests, and wild life have not been given any consideration while constructing roads in forest areas in spite of the specific directions of the Supreme Court of India. However, there have been other important considerations, the “National Interest” and the evergreen “Security Reasons” which override everything else! Why do such considerations of environmental degradations come up only when it is a question of providing access to Kashmiris living in different parts of the state? There is only one plausible explanation. People in some quarters do not want to see the revival of the concept of Greater Kashmir. Greater Kashmir comprising of the valley surrounded by its peripheral areas having Kashmiri speaking population has existed in history from the earliest times as a state ruled by kings belonging to different faiths. The State of Kashmir has expanded a number of times beyond its traditional boundaries. However, the valley has always remained at the heart of this kingdom. But historically the peripheral territories have also remained an important part of Kashmir as these have been home to a large number of Kashmiris migrating out of the valley from time to time for various reasons such as persecution, famine, floods and so on. In fact, because of the remote mountainous locations, the Kashmiri settlers here are the real unadulterated race of the genuine original Kashmiris as they have remained mostly unmolested by the foreign invaders. If one believes the historical records of ancient Kashmir, the people of the valley have not been so cowardly and without any national character as the present generations. Centuries of subjugations with the inherent instinct for survival have reduced Kashmiris to the present status. However, the original Kashmiris who migrated to these peripheral territories have retained many of the positive characteristics like bravery and self-respect. The people living here are bold, courageous, and more militant in nature. They do not take everything lying down and react more violently than the valley dwellers. A large number of people from Poonch were part of erstwhile Maharaja’s Army. Some of these had even participated in the two World Wars. The first instance of rebellion also emanated from this area. It was this rebellion which was made an excuse by the tribesmen from North West Frontier Province to enter Kashmir. Sardar Ibrahim was the leader of this revolt which ultimately culminated into “Azad Kashmir”. The entire belt from Wadwan valley of Kishtwar to Loran in Poonch is Kashmiri speaking. Obviously some people would not like easy and free access of valley dwellers to their unadulterated original ancestors and vice versa. This is especially true after the events of last decade and a half. An appreciable number of people from these areas have settled in Jammu city and its suburbs. They have bought land and set up properties without any resistance or hindrance from the locals as well as the State Authorities who have on the contrary encouraged the trend. Had these people been given a free and easy access to the valley right from 1947, they would have by now very much integrated with the people here both socially as well as culturally. But this would not have suited some people bent up changing the original identity of Kashmiris. If one looks at the history of attempts made to connect the valley to these areas, it becomes evident that there has been a deliberate policy to prevent this connection. Sheikh Abdullah towards the last days of his life made many attempts to undo his original mistake. The first attempt was the introduction of the Resettlement Act. The others were the starting of work on Daksum-Kishtwar road across Synthan pass and the Mughal Road. Even though the Kishtwar road was completed and thrown open to traffic, yet it was never taken up for up gradation and left in a rough condition. In fact, after the outbreak of militancy it was completely closed for traffic for “Security Reasons”. The Mughal Road never took off in the real sense. Similar has been the case with the Darads of Gurez and Tulail. These areas too were an important part of the ancient Kashmir. History is full of interactions between these areas and Kashmir and the last sovereign ruler of Kashmir, Yusuf Shah Chak belonged to this area. Here too, the road connection has been left in a dilapidated condition and they remain cut off from the valley for almost 7 to 8 months. There seems to be some sort of apprehension in some quarters that if all the Kashmiris living in different parts of the State are given free access among themselves and to their northern and western neighbours, they will totally forget their southern neighbours. In a recent political discussion about the vexed problem of Kashmir, a friend remarked that Kashmiris are not only alienated from Delhi but they totally distrust it! This has been vividly demonstrated by the stark difference between the declarations of the top leaders from Delhi and the implementation of the same. None of the declarations having “Sky as their limit” have ever been implemented here. Same is the case in reverse. Delhi has never in sincerity trusted Kashmiris and especially Kashmiri Muslims. Had Delhi fully trusted Kashmiris, the things would not have come to such a pass. Heavens would not fall if Kashmiris living in different parts are connected to each other for an easy and free interaction. Kashmiris are virtual prisoners in the geographical confines of their land guarded by over a million soldiers. They have no escape. Similarly, if Kashmiris are allowed to travel freely between the two parts of Kashmir and links to Central Asia are revived, it will create more trust of Delhi and give a feeling that the people are free to do what they feel like doing. At the movement every move of Kashmiris seems to be monitored and controlled from Delhi whether it pertains to mainstream ruling parties or the leaders of the opposition. Even Kashmiris living abroad are not able to get their travel documents renewed or reissued without reference to Home Department. As regards locals living here it is a Herculean task to get a passport. Again a question of lack of trust. If Delhi sincerely wants to solve the problem, the first requirement is to create an atmosphere of trust. Alienation can be removed by isolating the people from the soldiers by confining them in their cantonments and camps. However, the trust cannot be created unless practical steps to give relief to the people in different spheres of life are taken in a bold and transparent manner. Is there someone bold enough in the Indian leadership to take such a step? On that depends the fate of the “Peace Process”! In the case of Kashmiri leaders too, it is a pity that they always beat about the bush and do not have the courage to speak out the truth without any reservations and stand by it regardless of the consequences! It is only when we face the truth boldly that problems can be solved. Hiding the truth never solves the problems but rather compounds these. History is a witness to this basic truth!