In the context of ongoing insecurity in Afghanistan, and with both India and Pakistan possessing nuclear weapons, the persistence of instability in Kashmir poses a real threat to regional security in South Asia.

Conciliation Resources supports Kashmiri civil society to play a more dynamic and proactive peacebuilding role to enhance the prospects for a non-violent transformation of the conflict.

We promote ownership of and participation by Kashmiris in the India–Pakistan peace process. Conciliation Resources works in all of the regions across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. We also work with the Kashmiri diaspora communities in the UK.

Promoting understanding of peaceful ways to resolve conflict

There are few avenues for the diverse population of Kashmir to be included in peacebuilding processes. We believe that greater participation by the people of Kashmir will create a more productive India-Pakistan peace process to resolve the Kashmir conflict, recognising that in order to achieve any sustainable settlement it must be acceptable to all sides.

Our aim is to develop the peacebuilding capacities of people on both sides of the LoC and contribute to informal peacebuilding processes, by facilitating shared analysis, dialogue and practical engagement at regional and cross-LoC levels.

We support local civic actors to raise awareness about the need for creative peacemaking in Kashmir and our partners have begun making steps to contribute to public debate through structured outreach and media work.

Creating opportunities for dialogue between divided communities

Building confidence and establishing bonds through collaborative actions creates space for intra-Kashmiri interaction and dialogue. This helps to identify and articulate a joint vision of peace, which can in turn enable India and Pakistan to make progress on the peace process.

However, the ability of civil society organisations to play a more meaningful role in promoting links, both within and between different regions and most particularly across the LoC, has been limited.

Women and youth continue to be largely marginalised and excluded from the consultative and decision-making structures and peacebuilding processes. Yet these are critical communities for longer-term processes of transforming the conflict.

Our aim is to increase mutual trust and confidence among partners from both sides, leading to the

www.c-r.org/kashmir

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Kashmir

The conflict in and around the disputed regions of Kashmir* has its roots in independence in 1947, when British India was divided between India and Pakistan. Outbreaks of war occurred between the two countries in 1947, 1965 and 1971. A militant insurgency, which displayed increased levels of violence from 1989, has led to tens of thousands of deaths.

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Conciliation Resources 173 Upper Street London N1 1RG UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7359 7728 Email: cr@c-r.org Web: www.c-r.org Twitter: @CRbuildpeace

development of new ideas to influence peacebuilding. The experience of cross-LoC trade in the past couple of years has shown that there is space for engagement despite severe limitations.

Improving peacebuilding policies and practice

There is a significant communication gap between civil society in Kashmir and policymakers: those influencing policy in India and Pakistan, those on either side of the LoC, and those in the diplomatic community. This gap is caused by a lack of opportunities for constructive engagement and shared analysis, as well as civil society’s lack of capacity to present practical policy suggestions informed by local and grassroots experiences.

We’re working with local people who are looking for new ways to explore interaction between the regions, and champion ideas at a national level. This is done with separate groups on either side of the LoC, as well as by bringing groups together to enhance understanding about key issues.

Conciliation Resources has held a number of workshops to explore issues such as cross LoC trade, cooperation in the sphere of higher education, engagement for members of civil society from either side of the LoC as well as the diaspora in the processes of conflict transformation and peacebuilding in Kashmir. These workshops provide a safe space to debate policy ideas, explore peacebuilding opportunities and create relationships upon which future policy analysis can be built.

Supporting people to build peace

Our efforts are designed to help local people create a more inclusive, bottom-up peace process. Promoting interaction between Kashmiris and creating space for engaging previously neglected sections of the affected population is central to our approach. Our work to promote the inclusion of marginalised constituencies enables such groups to develop confidence in their ability to help shape a durable resolution of the conflict.

We share peacebuilding skills, knowledge and good practice with local peacebuilding NGOs and bring people from both sides of the LoC together. We work with people on either side of the LoC who recognise the potential for change and who are ready and able to help transform conflict at their community levels.

Conciliation Resources Charity registered in England and Wales (1055436) Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (03196482)

Our work on trade across the LoC has resulted in the signing of the first ever joint agreement on a cross LoC Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (J&K JCCI). Our report Jammu and Kashmir: Trade Across the Line of Control, which explores how existing trade can be strengthened in order to contribute to unofficial peacebuilding processes, was well received by policymakers in the region and was used to inform policy discussions in Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi, Muzaffarabad and Islamabad. The J&K JCCI and Conciliation Resources’ partners are undertaking further initiatives aimed at promoting cross-LOC trade and investment to support economic development and peace in the region.

With our support, a first ever cross-LoC documentary film, A Journey Through River Vitasta, has been produced. Making the film was a significant success in itself as the two journalists who jointly produced it – one from each side of the LoC – were not able to meet in their home region. These journalists are collaborating to produce more peace documentaries about Kashmir.

Workshops with community and women’s groups involving a range of people from different sectors of society – human rights activists, social workers, lawyers, students, academics, journalists, business men and women, and community development workers – have encouraged people from both sides of the LoC to talk constructively about a future without conflict. So far, more than a thousand people have been involved.

The Kashmir Initiative Group of experts from both sides of the LoC has been established to facilitate a process to deepen joint analysis across the conflict divide. They also explore confidence building and continue to build relationships across the divide, communicating with policymakers and civil society to positively influence discourse at all levels.

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“I believe it would help resolve the Kashmir conflict if everyone involved in Kashmir, including our senior leadership, could undergo such processes of joint learning.”HA Kashmiri participant reflecting on the ‘profound usefulness’ of a Conciliation Resources event

* The word ‘Kashmir’ in this document refers to the five regions on both sides of the LoC: Jammu, Ladakh and the Valley of Kashmir on the Indian side, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan on the Pakistani side. This is without prejudice regarding other terminology used for naming Kashmir.