Forex

At a hip cafeteria in central Srinagar groups of young men and women sit around sipping cappuccinos and cafe lattes.

Background music is the Bee Gees and Bryan Adams, the dress code is jeans and T-shirts for men and traditional but elegant salwar kameez for women. There are very few headscarves.

It's a scene which would have been unthinkable in Indian-administered Kashmir a few years ago.

For almost two decades, the region has been in the grip of a violent insurgency by militants opposed to Indian rule and chants of "azaadi", or freedom, were the first words one heard on arrival.

Today, the word "azaadi" is still part of some people's lexicon, but with many young Kashmiris it comes out only after some probing.

'Last on the list'

"In our college, the most discussed issue is personal life. Students talk about their boyfriends and girlfriends, their love trouble," says Ibrahim Wani, a biochemistry student at Sri Pratap College.


Hussain believes he has a bright future

"The number two topic of discussion is education, career, employment opportunities. Then we share our concern for the environment. The fight for Kashmir's freedom or where the separatist movement is headed is last on the list," he says.

A stroll through Srinagar University's walkways, shaded by centuries-old chinar (plane) trees, shows the shift in the priorities of the young in Kashmir.

The clamour here is for well-paying jobs, better infrastructure, women's rights and peace.