At the core of all problems plaguing not only Kashmir but the whole sub-continent is mistrust. However, the most mistrusted people in this entire volatile region are the Kashmiris. The procedures involved in a number of routine issues of daily life starkly bear out this truth. Let us start with the obtaining of a Sim for a mobile phone. Other day I wanted to get an Airtel Sim for my second mobile phone as the BSNL Sim was not easily connecting to other networks. I was shocked to know that for a simple pre-paid Sim I had to fill in 7 forms. I had to give my photograph, get my residential address verified, and produce some witnesses. It may take a few days before I can get a pre-paid Sim and then I will have to get it activated. In any other place outside the state or abroad one can get a pre-activated pre-paid Sim almost instantly. There is another catch; my pre-paid Sim of Kashmir will not operate outside the state. Nor will any outside state pre-paid Sim operate here. In addition all Global Roaming GSM mobile phones from anywhere in the world which automatically switch to local networks go totally bust in Kashmir. On being asked why it happens, one of the network officials told me that it is a licensing condition for all network operators in Kashmir that no roaming of global GSM phones would be allowed here. However, they are unable to do anything about pre-paid satellite phones easily available anywhere in the world and reportedly used by some militant organisations. All this comes under the ever green label of “Security Reasons”. Another problem with communications is the inability of Kashmiris to directly dial any number in Pakistan or Pakistan Administered Kashmir. It is possible to talk to a person anywhere on this planet or even in space but not to anyone across the Line of Control. They can always call us. Here, again the security agencies are unable to block VOIP. One sometimes feels pity that in this information age of digital technology there are people who resort to such archaic means of surveillance! The security bosses need to see the famous Hollywood movie, “Enemy of the State” to compare with their clumsy and irritating ways. The second area of mistrust is the issue of an Indian Passport to a Kashmiri and that too a Muslim. On an average people have to wait for six months to a year. Sometimes the wait may be for a few years. Under Passport rules applicable all over India except Kashmir, a passport can be given on the certificate of an officer of the Central Government of the rank of a Deputy Secretary to Government or above. In this case no Police verification of antecedents is required. In Kashmir every body, even senior citizens in their eighties and the infants have to undergo Police verification. Police verification is conducted by the Special Branch of the State CID (Criminal Investigation Department) on one hand and by the concerned district Police Superintendent on the other hand. Apart from this there is separate verification of antecedents by the Central Intelligence Bureau in case of certain “sensitive” persons. One would not mind all this checking of antecedents in the interests of security but unfortunately the process is so slow that it becomes frustrating and tortuous. This is the state of affairs of those applying within the state. The ones applying for renewal or issue of a new passport abroad have nightmarish experience. Sometimes they lose their working permits and residential visas. I have personal experience of this nightmare in Dubai. All Indian passport holders except Kashmiris and Sikhs can get their passports renewed or re-issued within two days under tatkal scheme by paying requisite fees. However, this does not apply to Kashmiris and Sikhs. In case of Sikhs the embassies have black lists but in case of Kashmiris all passports applications are referred to Kashmir Home Department for verification. The response from the Kashmir side is so slow that people have to wait sometimes for two years before their passports are renewed or issued for a period exceeding one year. The Dubai Consul General had confessed to me personally that he was frustrated by the abnormally slow response from the State Government authorities. He had to face embarrassing situations sometimes. Once a Kashmiri girl had threatened self immolation in front of the Consulate unless her passport was renewed beyond one year as she had the fear of losing her working permit and consequently the job she had got with great difficulty. My own relations have faced these ordeals a number of times. Another problem is the grant of visa to Pakistani nationals of Kashmiri origin. No visa to visit Kashmir can be issued by any Indian Embassy to a Pakistan Passport holder even if of Kashmiri origin unless it is cleared by Kashmir Home Department and the Central Intelligence Bureau. Again it is a process involving a number of organisations which sometimes takes years to complete. A few years back the two Governments had decided to allow Kashmiris to travel across the Line of Control without any passports. The aim was to make the travel across this artificial line easy especially for blood relations on two sides. However, the procedure for travel is more complicated and cumbersome than the travel across International Border with passports and visa. All prospective travellers have to apply for a permit to the Passport Officer. The application is then referred to State Intelligence Department for verification. Once it is cleared, the same is sent to other side for acceptance. The process is extremely time consuming. A senior Police Officer mentioned that some of his relatives had been waiting for a year and half to get on the bus. At present there are 6,000 people on the waiting list. The buses ply once in a fortnight and carry 30 to 40 odd people from either side. So far hardly a couple of thousand people must have used the bus in last three years. It is interesting to note that even this Confidence Building Measure supposed to bring people on two sides of LOC closer is controlled from Delhi. The Passport Officer is the representative of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. This fact of Central control was demonstrated to me recently when some relations of a friend who had come by bus wanted to extend their stay by a couple of weeks. It was revealed that the Passport Officer has no authority to extend the stay beyond 28 days. Any further extension has to be referred to Delhi. In spite of the highest administrative and security authorities intervening in the matter and a State Minister recommending it, the extension could not be granted and the concerned had to return to Pak Administered Kashmir to the utter disappointment of my friend. Similar is the position for extension of visa in case of Pakistani nationals. All foreigners except Pakistani nationals can have their visa extended here beyond 30 days locally. The cases of all Pakistani nationals including those of Kashmiri origin, intending to extend their visas have to be referred to Delhi. These procedures amply demonstrate how much the authorities in Delhi mistrust all Kashmiris. However, no one here raises any objection as it has become an established routine. In return, the Kashmiris have lost total faith in the Indian leadership or their representatives here. All declarations emanating from Delhi or mouthed by their local representatives are taken with a pinch of salt. No Confidence Building Measure can succeed unless there is the basic trust. The trust between the people and authorities both local as well as federal and also across the dividing line between the two halves of Kashmir. Had the Government of India been sincere about Kashmiris, they would have never allowed these minor irritants to destroy both their credibility and the basic trust. However, the practical ground reality has amply demonstrated that the Kashmiris are the most mistrusted people in the sub-continent. The Constitution of India proclaims equality for all citizens irrespective of caste, creed, colour, and religion in every sphere of life in all parts of the country. Can someone demonstrate this fact practically on the ground here in Kashmir?