ABSTRACT
Violence in Kashmir has gone through several phases, with rehabilitation policies being enacted during different points of time whenever the opportunity offered itself. A Rehabilitation Council was set up in 1996 with the stated objective of providing assistance to those affected by militancy. The policy specified specific places of entry for surrendering militants. A fresh surrender policy was announced, which specifically targeted Kashmiris who had gone to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for training between 1989 and 2009. The solution probably lies somewhere in the middle. Young militants can be asked to return with honor— and preferably without photo-ops with men in uniform— but should be made to compete with others of their own age for jobs. Disillusionment with the state and its inevitably poorly kept promises is a hallmark of most conflict zones. State officials have been accused of corruption in implementing the few rehabilitation measures that have been tried so far.
