The ambivalence becomes more obvious when one goes through other responses. Although Kashmiris are known to strongly resent the Indian state, the survey shows that this resentment is more focused on the coercive arm of the state rather than its political institutions. Around 85 per cent respondents reposed either no trust or a very little trust in the army. Responses to the police are similar. As against this, the percentage of those who show a lack of trust in the Indian Parliament and Election Commission is 31.9 per cent and 32.8 per cent respectively, even as 41.6 per cent respondents indicated trust in Parliament and 33.6 per cent, in the EC. The response to the national government is also quite positive — 44.7 per cent respondents expressed positive trust in it. Interestingly, the level of trust in the national government is higher than in the provincial government (40.7 per cent).

Despite the ambivalence, the survey clearly shows that Kashmiris want the peace process to move on: 96 per cent respondents believe peace should return in whatever manner. For the peace process to move on they recommend that the Centre hold talks with the Hurriyat Conference (99.6 per cent) and militant groups (98.2 per cent). Another significant finding is the clear rejection of a communal solution to the dispute — 74 per cent rejected the idea of dividing the state into three units while 81 per cent wanted the Pandits to be brought back to the Valley, and as many as 87.6 per cent respondents affirmed that the Kashmiri struggle is against the Indian government and not the Indian people.

... contd.