ABSTRACT
In Kashmir, the conservative religious ideology that defines the militant nationalist project, has in paradoxical ways not only served to silence the voices of women who have lent their support to the militancy and participated in it, but has also accorded visibility to women who have come out to speak in favour of the militancy and its objectives. Yasmeena Akhter was a 22-year-old Kashmiri woman; in October 2005 parts of her body were found on a highway near an army camp in Avantipora. Basharat Peer is troubled by Yasmeena's actions and his quest is to find the truth. He suggests the usual and predictable, that Yasmeena secretly romanced a militant and married him. Basharat Peer's journalistic investigations have finally revealed the truth that will restore Yasmeena's place in society and make her story acceptable. She was merely 'the bride with a bomb' whose tragic family history and her reckless heart had pushed her into dangerous militant terrain.
