This past Saturday 7th July, Dr.Nyla Ali Khan hosted what hopes to be the first in a series of dialogue forums to bring together Kashmiris of differing views to work together on social issues and the re-defining of Kashmiri identity after years of conflict and the present militarized  environment.

The following is the press release for the gathering.
Round table conversation on Kashmir’s social and political condition

Bringing Kashmiri minds together to discuss our collective future

Saturday, July 7^th: A non-partisan, round table discussion chaired by Dr Nyla Ali Khan was held in Srinagar. This session explored the diverse voices of Kashmir in order to reignite the Kashmiri pluralistic identity, to gauge the priorities of Kashmiri youth, and give overall direction to the discourse of the J&K region to be considered in present and future political processes.

The group believes that years of conflict and political turmoil have not only torn apart the diverse social fabric of Kashmir but tilled the soil for suspicion, mistrust and often hopelessness to take root. The group recognized that Kashmir is in need of a political solution and recognized that we disagree, over what the path toward that solution should be. Meanwhile, being caught up in attempts to discredit or disprove others opinions, important sociocultural and political issues are not being attended to, far less recognized.  We have lost sight that at the end of the day, even if we disagree, we are all Kashmiris and have a shared responsibility to create a stable and prosperous Kashmir for our children’s future.

The round table consisted of academics, community leaders, youth represented by young men and women, and politicians. The discussion took the direction of understanding internal differences and finding ways to reconcile divergences and building on convergences.

The discussion emphasized the importance of situating Kashmir in the context of changing regional and global order while taking cues from new forces unleashed by the communication revolution and borderless economies but without ignoring harsh ground realities.

Dr. Khan tells of her motivation to host the round table “Our joys and sorrows are largely identical, and in this strategic part of the world we can effectively play our destined role in world affairs only together. Writers and the press can play a useful role by always emphasizing areas of agreement, rather than those of disagreement. Identifying areas of common interest and outlook is a process of growth. Perseverance is absolutely necessary to work together. We have much in common and we are losing our substance in quarrelling with each other without such a realization there is no hope. The worse sufferers of this war of attrition are Kashmiris.” 

The list of actionable identified by the group include addressing the drug problems & lack of de-addiction programs, women’s harassment and abuse, environmental degradation and need for awareness, understanding of inter-state culture and inclusiveness of people from Ladakh and Jammu division.

The group included Prof Gull Wani of Kashmir University, Prof Siddiq Wahid of IKS, Shujaat Bukhari, Shameem Firdous (MLA), Sehar Iqbal, A M Watali, Dr Jyotsna Singh, Omar Wani, Shuja-ul-Haq, Athar Zia, Zaffar Iqbal, Aijaz Ashraf Wani, Peerzada Ashiq, Tabish Parray, Raheel Khursheed, Mir Shariq, Shahid Ahmed and Asiya Zahoor.