In late November, the most powerful Pro-Pakistan group in Kashmir agreed to hold truce fire talks with India, as long as Pakistan was included in the talks. This happened after the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee wished to hold a truce fire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

During the negotiations they hope to address the issues of:

• Kashmiri people in Indian Jails
• Indian troups in Kashmir that have been there since 1989
• Cease the hostilities in Kashmir

Other considerations:

• reform of human rights abuses
• willingness to discuss solutions with the Kashmiris and just not saying okay this is what is happening
• help and support from India and other countries to support the industry and create jobs

Why Can't Kashmir become its own country

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Kashmir must determine its future

Because of the fact that both India and Pakistan are threatening to use nuclear weapons against each other, it must be the Kashmiris who determine what their future is going to be.

Now that the current cease-fire/peace talks are going on, this is a good time for the country to exert itself and demand what it would like to have done. The country needs to decide if it's going to go to Pakistan or become its own independent country and under what terms and most of all when? Will human rights abuses be fixed or will there possible be just as many problems, there are all to be determined over the next couple of months.

What's Happened Since the Cease Fire?

the cease fire is currently a month old, what has happened since?

• Religious clashes between Hindus and Muslims have taken place, any many have been killed

• The chief of Hezb-ul Mujahedeen, Sayed Salahuddin has said that none of the guerilla groups hoping for sucession from India will participate in the cease fire, this has only worsened religious tensions.

• India Nationalist supporters accuse Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of "selling out" to the militants of Kashmir and Pakistan. They attack and burn an effigy of him.

• As of December 20, 2000 Pakistan pulled out many of its troops from the border area around Kashmir

• Peace in general has come to the country. The question now remains, will we see a free and independent Kashmir within a few years, will it become a part of Pakistan or will it become its own seperate nation? That is to be determined within the next couple of months. Good luck to Kashmir.