Snow snuffs Kashmir's war fires

To this day, both countries hold a portion of the state. India believes the state of Jammu and Kashmir is rightfully India's, since at partition the Hindu prince who ruled Kashmir acceded to India. Pakistan believes that Kashmir should belong to Pakistan, since it received most of British India's states with Muslim majorities. Neither country appears ready to alter these positions.

For a lasting peace to take hold, regional experts stress that the recent goodwill gestures need to be followed quickly with something more concrete.

"Pakistan has to be seen doing something other than just banning a few militant groups," says Ashok Mehta, a former Indian Army major general and now a defense analyst in New Delhi. "They must do something visible, concrete, like dismantling militant camps. India must be convinced that something is being done to stop infiltration."

Pakistani observers, meanwhile, say that India should move toward a serious dialogue with Kashmiri separatists. Last week's invitation by Indian Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference is a good first step, they say.

Despite all the talk of next steps, the cease-fire has not brought peace in the valley of Indian Kashmir itself. Militants have continued to carry out attacks on Indian troops, and Indian troops have actually stepped up house-to-house searches for militants. In the past five days alone, 10 people have been killed, including four militants and six Kashmiri citizens.

"My hunch is that the Army has plans to flush out militants, using a whole array of early warning systems and sensors on the ground and thermal imaging devices that help them locate militants," says Mr. Mehta. "Some of these operations of the military, such as cordon and search, may not be very people-friendly."

Here in Pakistan, most militant pro-Kashmir groups have taken a lower profile since President Musharraf banned three of the most active pro-Kashmiri military organizations, including Lashkar-i Tayyaba and Jaish-e Muhammed. But, some like the largest ethnic Kashmiri militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, say the cease-fire will not keep them from infiltrating Indian Kashmir and fighting for separation.

"The cease-fire is between the two armies and is limited to the Line of Control," says Saleem Hashmi, spokesman for Hizbul. "Our fight against the Indian forces will continue in Kashmir. Cease-fire is not the solution. The problem does not resolve until the Kashmir issue gets resolved."

Even so, here in Karachi, Rana Anwer says she is ready to leave for India anytime she can get a visa. She hasn't seen her relatives there since she emigrated to in 1988 to marry.

She sighs. "I could not see my father, but now at least I could visit his grave."

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