Sheikh, meanwhile, has his own list of orchards and land occupied by the army with no compensation given to the owners. “In Anantnag, around 4,000 kanal are with the army, at Lakutpora in Ashmuqam, there are 800 kanal, at Dooru, there are more than 400 kanal of orchards in three villages—Chakapeth, Larakpora and Lokibawan—at Qazigund, there are over 400 kanal each in Chak Wangund and Woojur villages.

Farmers like Sheikh are spread across the Valley, the constituency that makes People’s Democratic Party’s demilitarisation demand such a potent political slogan in Kashmir ahead of next year’s assembly polls. Whatever the outcome of the political crisis that has put the PDP on a collision course with its coalition partner, the Congress, and the Centre, demilitarisation is bound to affect lives and livelihoods. Even if the PDP doesn’t get support from political opponents like the National Conference or the separatists, it will be difficult to ignore its demand.

The Proposal and the Players

Various political parties and groups have reacted differently to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point proposal, including demilitarisation, to push a resolution on Kashmir.

Hurriyat: The moderates, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, supported Musharraf’s proposal and demanded troop withdrawal.

PDP: It supported demilitarisation but linked with it the issue of unauthorised occupation of land, especially that of apple orchards by the Army.

National Conference: The largest political party in J-K Assembly didn’t support demilitarisation for obvious political reasons, but has not opposed it as well.

Congress: It is the only major party in Jammu & Kashmir which opposes demilitarisation outrightly, citing security concerns. But its opposition too is rooted in politics as it feels the BJP will turn troop withdrawal into an emotive issue concerning national security.