Sheikh Minhaj/ Asian Nama
For nearly three decades, Kashmir remained trapped in violence, uncertainty and fear. Between 1990 and 2019, the Valley witnessed terrorism, bloodshed, destruction and endless suffering that deeply scarred society. The conflict did not only damage roads, buildings and institutions; it shattered dreams, separated families and left emotional wounds that still haunt generations. While political narratives often dominated headlines, ordinary people silently carried the heaviest burden of grief, pain and helplessness.
The eruption of militancy in the early 1990s changed the history of Kashmir forever. Fear entered homes, schools and marketplaces. Gunfire replaced peace, and uncertainty became a part of everyday life. Innocent civilians, political workers, government employees, security personnel and ordinary citizens became victims of violence. Thousands of families lived every day not knowing whether their loved ones would safely return home after work, school or travel.
According to various official and independent estimates, more than 40,000 people lost their lives between 1990 and 2019. Behind every death was a grieving mother, a devastated father, a widow waiting in silence and children forced to grow up without affection, support and security. Terrorism turned countless homes into places of sorrow. Graveyards expanded while dreams disappeared.
The greatest tragedy of terrorism is that it destroys ordinary lives more than anything else. A poor labourer leaving home to earn bread for his family becomes a victim of crossfire. A student loses education because schools remain closed for months. A mother spends sleepless nights praying for the safety of her children. Generations in Kashmir grew up amid shutdowns, encounters, curfews and uncertainty. Children who deserved playgrounds and classrooms instead learned the language of fear before understanding the meaning of peace.
One of the darkest chapters of the conflict was the migration of the Kashmiri Pandit community during the early 1990s. Thousands of families fled the Valley after rising violence and fear. They left behind homes, temples, memories and generations of cultural belonging. Many families spent years living in camps under extremely difficult conditions. The pain of displacement remains alive even today. Kashmir lost an important part of its social and cultural identity when communities that had lived together for centuries were separated by violence and insecurity.
The economic damage caused by terrorism was equally devastating. Kashmir possessed immense potential in tourism, handicrafts, horticulture and trade, yet conflict repeatedly crushed economic growth. Tourism, once considered the backbone of the Valley’s economy, suffered whenever violence escalated. Empty hotels, silent markets and deserted gardens became painful reminders of instability and uncertainty.
Thousands of people dependent on tourism struggled to survive. Houseboat owners waited endlessly for tourists who never arrived. Taxi drivers spent days without passengers. Shopkeepers watched businesses collapse during repeated shutdowns and curfews. Daily wage labourers suffered the most because they depended entirely upon every day’s earnings to feed their families. Terrorism weakened the financial foundation of countless households across the Valley.
While the rest of India witnessed rapid economic growth, industrial expansion and technological progress, Kashmir remained trapped in instability. Investors hesitated to invest in a conflict zone. Industries failed to develop, private businesses weakened and unemployment increased continuously. Young people with talent and ambition often lacked opportunities because decades of violence damaged economic confidence and stability. Many educated youths migrated outside the Valley searching for employment, security and better opportunities.
Education became another major casualty of terrorism. Schools, colleges and universities repeatedly remained closed during periods of unrest, strikes and curfews. Students lost months and sometimes years of academic learning. A child born during the 1990s often grew up hearing gunshots instead of classroom bells. Many students struggled to complete studies because academic calendars were repeatedly disrupted. Competitive examinations became extremely difficult for Kashmiri students who faced interruptions unknown to students elsewhere in the country.
The psychological impact of prolonged violence left deep scars upon society. Children witnessed encounters, protests and fear at a very young age. Many grew up with anxiety, trauma and emotional insecurity. Mental health problems increased across the Valley as people struggled to cope with uncertainty, grief and repeated exposure to violence. Parents feared sending children outside during tense situations. Families remained trapped indoors during curfews for days together.
The social fabric of Kashmir also suffered severe damage. Trust weakened between communities, migration increased and relationships changed under the pressure of prolonged instability. Terrorism divided society and damaged the centuries old culture of coexistence and harmony that once defined Kashmir. Families separated because of fear and insecurity. Communities that had lived together peacefully for generations gradually drifted apart. The emotional distance created by violence became one of the conflict’s most painful consequences.
At the same time, thousands of security personnel sacrificed their lives while fighting terrorism and protecting civilians. Soldiers, police personnel and officers worked under dangerous conditions for decades. Many young men from across the country laid down their lives while trying to restore peace and stability in the Valley. Their sacrifices remain an important chapter in Kashmir’s painful journey. Numerous families of security personnel also endured immense grief, loss.
The painful reality is that terrorism never brought prosperity or peace to Kashmir. Instead, it brought destruction, suffering and emotional exhaustion. It delayed development, weakened institutions and consumed the productive years of an entire generation. The people of Kashmir paid the highest price while violence continued to destroy lives, opportunities and social harmony. Terrorism did not build hospitals, schools or industries; it only deepened wounds and prolonged uncertainty.
Yet despite everything, the spirit of the people survived. Families rebuilt homes after destruction. Students continued studies despite hardships. Parents continued hoping for a better future for their children. Society displayed remarkable resilience even during the darkest years of violence. The people of Kashmir demonstrated courage, patience and endurance despite carrying unbearable emotional and economic burdens.
The lessons from 1990 to 2019 are painful but important. Violence can never create lasting peace. Terrorism only spreads fear, hatred and suffering. The future of Kashmir cannot be built through guns, bloodshed and destruction. It can only be built through education, development, dialogue, peace and opportunity. Young people deserve classrooms instead of curfews, employment instead of uncertainty and hope instead of trauma.
Kashmir’s next generation deserves a future free from fear and instability. Children should inherit books instead of bullets and opportunities instead of grief. The greatest tribute to those who suffered during these decades will be ensuring that no child in Kashmir ever again grows up surrounded by violence, helplessness and fear. Peace alone can restore the dignity, confidence and future that millions of people waited for during those painful years. for generations.
