Laraib Nisar
Kashmir has remained a bone of contention between the two hostile neighbors i.e. India and Pakistan since the partition of British India. Kashmir region was split into two halves with the administration of one part in the hands of Pakistan (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and the other one’s in Indian hands (Indian Occupied Kashmir). With the border skirmishes being still persistent despite the declaration of a stalemate by the two states due to UN intervention in 1949, the prolonged conflict has several serious consequences on the lives of Kashmiris.
The protracted conflict has not only cast economic, social, and political implications on the people of the Kashmir region but also posed some grave psychological impacts. Unlike physical trauma, psychological trauma is far more deep-rooted and long-lasting and has the capacity to transform into social and even physical distress. The psychological implications of continued Indian violence, torture, and oppression on the lives of Kashmiris living in the Indian occupied Kashmir are boundless.
The minds of Kashmiris are deeply tarnished as a result of the loss of life and property, dislocation, torment, and their indirect effects including joblessness, poverty, homelessness, and so on. Such conditions constantly make people prone to psychological distress and issues like fear, aggression, depression, anxiety, insecurity, and confusion.
According to a survey conducted by the Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar, during the continuing chaos, the people initially suffered from anxiety due to fear which later on transformed into depression. There is a significant surge in the occurrence and pervasiveness of mental disorders. The experience of trauma and the harshness and persistence of certain symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD) has elevated the graph of a mental impediment in the valley. The associated traumas have upsetting consequences on a whole lot of people not only those affected directly but also others who have not been exposed to direct violence.
Mental illnesses and psychosocial costs linked with conflicts include sleeplessness, anxiety, tension, anger, aggressiveness, depression, flashbacks, liquor and substance abuse, suicide, and domestic and sexual violence. After a traumatic incident, a large fraction of the population may experience nightmares, fear, and other stress-related symptoms, although these effects usually decrease in intensity with the passage of time. For some, the hopelessness and helplessness linked with persistent uncertainty, statelessness, and poverty will cause transient reactions such as those mentioned above. For others, conflict experiences may lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and prolonged depression. These disorders can lead to suicide ideation and efforts, chronic alcohol and drug misuse, interpersonal violence, and other signs of social dysfunction. Studies show that populations affected by conflict are not only affected by mental health problems but have reduced efficiency, poor nutritional, health, and educational results, and lessened ability to contribute to development efforts.
According to a study conducted by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) which collected data from 399 villages across all ten districts of the Indian occupied Kashmir Valley, almost 99.2% of the adult population went through or observed at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. The weighted population prevalence rate for psychological distress was 45%. 41 % of people showed signs of depression, 26% of anxiety, and 19% of people exhibited signs of PTSD. More than half of survey respondents (64%) confirmed feeling low in energy and worrying too much all the time. A large proportion also indicated that they had experienced difficulty sleeping (41%), a loss of interest in things (44%) and feelings of sadness (49%), worthlessness (46%), and crying easily for no identified reason (41%). The study found a high prevalence of mental health comorbidity among people with probable depression, anxiety, and PTSD; 89% of respondents identified with probable PTSD were also identified with probable depression, and 71% were classified with probable anxiety. Similarly, 90% who met the criteria for probable anxiety also met the criteria for probable depression; 16% of respondents were identified as probable cases for all three disorders. Â 94% of these respondents were classified as a likely case for at least one of the three disorders. The most important fact yielded by the study was that female respondents scored higher than male respondents in almost all cases.
Correspondingly, dreadful events like the brutal killing of a grandfather by Indian forces in front of a 3-year-old boy in the Sopore region of the Indian occupied Kashmir have raised further questions about the mental impacts of violence in Kashmir on children. The mental health experts have cautioned of an epidemic of psychological disorders in children of the valley who are exposed to complex, on-going trauma due to prolonged conflict in the region. Likewise, the use of Kashmiris as a human shield by the Indian security forces didn’t only abuse the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris but also resulted in the spread of trauma, distress, and rage among the Kashmiris.Â
Studies conducted so far evidently show that contact with violence has covert consequences for mental health. In areas affected by chronic conflict, a larger mass of the population is likely to experience mental health problems and the concerned authorities should take the necessary measures for the management of this mental health emergency. Reduced exposure to distressing life events can have a noteworthy effect on the psychosocial health and recovery of persons living in backgrounds facing political uncertainty. The Indian government should make sure that they discontinue the use of untargeted fiery weapons and those with wide-area effects in areas where non-combatants are possible to be amongst the fatalities, such as near residential areas. This would meaningfully decrease the effect of such violence on the general public, allowing people to live normal lives under safe conditions.
Additionally, efforts should be made to consider the human aspect of the Kashmir Conflict instead of the excessive politicization of the conflict. The emotions and threats posed to those directly involved in the conflict should be given special consideration while making future policies. Moreover, the government of India should make sure that none of their actions hinders the promotion of education for the Kashmiris, as education is very important for them to build their own narrative. Humane treatment of the innocent Kashmiris must be ensured by the Indian authorities and the violation of their fundamental human rights must be stopped immediately.
The author Laraib Nisar is a Defence and Startegic Studies (DSS) graduate from Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), while she works as a Researcher at Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.
