Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee
The Kashmiri adage goes,” Asav ne, te lasav kith paeth” ( If we don’t laugh how will we live”) . But today the Kashmiri youth are losing their smiles . With the sound of gushing water , aroma of pine trees , the vibrancy of saffron, rise of azaan and an unfathomable calling the very gentle large hearted and the soft spoken people Kashmir surprises everyone down the ages . But unfortunately , the region of Kashmir Valley and the broader union territory of Jammu & Kashmir has now been subject to geopolitical friction, insurgency, and conflict. For its youth — those in their teens to mid-thirties — this landscape presents a complex backdrop to growing up: limited employment opportunities, constant security disruptions, curtailed freedom of movement, and widespread physical and psychological trauma. Against this backdrop three interconnected challenges stand out: mobile and digital addiction, drug abuse and trafficking, and cross-border insurgency or terrorism recruitment. While each of these issues could be treated separately, in Kashmir they often co-exist and reinforce one another, influencing the lives, hopes, and futures of young Kashmiris in deeply troubling ways. The youth of Kashmir stand at a crucial juncture. On one hand, the region’s conflict-ridden environment, unemployment, and social disruption present serious risks; on the other, its youth represent immense potential. If provided with opportunities and support, they can be agents of renewal rather than casualties of crisis.
The conflict in Kashmir has traversed decades, with the region being the site of insurgency, counter-insurgency, cross-border infiltration, and proxy violence. Youth here are not simply bystanders; they are often directly affected and sometimes targeted for recruitment. Over 190 local youth in Kashmir joined militant outfits in 2018 alone. Studies have highlighted the rise of pan-Islamism and radicalization of Kashmiri youth through social-media channels, external agents, and local networks. Pakistani agencies have been accused of exploiting social media to radicalize Kashmiri youth, glamorizing militancy as a form of heroism.
Unemployment and frustration are key drivers. Youth unemployment is among the highest in India in certain districts of J&K, leaving idle time and frustration that open paths to drugs. Decades of conflict, curfews, fear, and deaths in families have increased vulnerability to substance misuse as self-medication. The region’s geography and porous borders make narcotics accessible, especially given its proximity to trafficking routes from the “Golden Crescent.” Some reports suggest that drug trafficking is being used as a deliberate strategy to weaken the younger generation’s resolve and undermine the social fabric.
Since the rollout of affordable smartphones and improved connectivity, large numbers of Kashmiri children and youth have developed heavy dependence on mobile phones, tablets, online gaming, and social-media use. Many reports show a surge in cases of digital addiction among Kashmiri children, affecting their cognitive development, attention span, and social skills. Another study found that nearly 63 percent of parents consider their children addicted to phones, and almost all of them believe increased screen-time has affected their physical health.
Several factors make this challenge especially acute in Kashmir. Regular curfews, internet shutdowns, and disruptions to schooling and outdoor life reduce meaningful alternatives for young people. With fewer safe communal spaces, sports facilities, and cultural venues, the default pastime often shifts to mobile devices. Living in a conflict zone brings stress, trauma, and anxiety, and many youths turn to online games or social media as coping mechanisms. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, dependence on devices for classes and entertainment increased sharply.The effects are wide-ranging and serious. Teachers report students who can text at lightning speed but hesitate to ask questions in class. Higher rates of obesity, weaker muscles, and vitamin-D deficiency have been noted due to lack of outdoor play. Youth spending hours on screens are more socially isolated, less able to engage in face-to-face conversations, and more prone to anxiety and behavioral changes. Excessive mobile use may also lower resistance to other addictive behaviors, such as drugs.Mobile addiction is not merely a harmless pastime. In a region already under strain, it reduces resilience, erodes social networks, diminishes opportunities to build life-skills, and drains motivation. For youth facing unemployment, disrupted schooling, and limited horizons, the trap of a digital tunnel can become deeply demotivating. The drug scenario in Kashmir has been described as an epidemic. Around eleven percent of youth aged 18-35 are believed to have used or are addicted to narcotics. Some reports estimate over a million active drug addicts in the Valley alone. Heroin seizures in the region grew more than five-fold between 2018 and 2022, and anti-narcotics investigations have suggested that external agencies may be pushing drug supply into Kashmir to destabilize its youth. The impact on youth and society is devastating. Addiction leads to grave physical and mental health outcomes — liver damage, respiratory problems, HIV and hepatitis through shared needles, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. It is closely associated with rising crime rates, theft, gang violence, and domestic abuse. Families suffer economically, often incurring debt to support an addict’s habit, while communities lose productive members. Many promising students and athletes have lost direction due to addiction, and the age of first drug use has fallen alarmingly.These problems feed into one another: mobile addiction undermines social bonds and self-control, unemployment and frustration open the path to drugs, and addiction compounds mental-health and social problems, increasing vulnerability to crime or recruitment into illicit networks. The destabilization of youth thus becomes both cause and consequence of the broader fragility in the region.
The drivers of radicalization are multifold. Youth exposed to heavy security presence and economic bottlenecks often feel marginalized and angry. Propaganda and digital outreach by extremist groups give them a sense of purpose or identity. Unemployment and idle time make militancy appear to some as a path to recognition or belonging. Cross-border networks like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba have long been active in recruiting Kashmiri youth.The impacts are tragic. Joining militancy often means death, imprisonment, or broken families. Recruitment drains young people from civil society, erodes trust, and fosters a culture of fear. Youth already vulnerable through drugs, digital isolation, or unemployment can be easily drawn into radical networks. Recruitment also fuels violence, leading to intensified counter-terrorism operations, curfews, and internet shutdowns — further feeding alienation. Although recent data show a decline in local youth joining militancy, the potential for radicalization remains.
These challenges are interconnected. Alienation leads to excessive screen time and reduced social bonds. Isolation and trauma increase susceptibility to drug use. Addiction and criminal behavior make youth more vulnerable to recruitment. Conflict-induced disruptions restrict educational and recreational opportunities, and drug trafficking overlaps with insurgent logistics, tying economic and security threats together. Thus, Kashmiri youth face a triple burden — digital addiction, drugs, and extremism — that undermines their wellbeing and the region’s stability. The drug crisis needs urgent attention. More de-addiction centers and mental-health facilities are required, with reduced stigma around seeking help. Law enforcement must continue its crackdown on traffickers, freezing assets and disrupting networks. Education and awareness campaigns should make young people conscious of the risks of substance abuse, while economic programs and skill-development initiatives offer viable alternatives to unemployment and frustration.Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action across families, schools, government, and civil society. Parents and teachers must be made aware of the dangers of excessive screen use and encouraged to promote outdoor sports, cultural activities, and structured screen-time limits. Mental-health support is essential, as digital addiction often stems from emotional distress
Preventing radicalization also demands community-based approaches. Youth engagement through sports, arts, and entrepreneurship can provide healthy outlets for energy and creativity. Digital literacy programs should teach young people to identify and reject extremist propaganda online. Religious leaders, teachers, and families must work together to recognize early signs of radicalization and provide guidance. Job creation and conflict-aware education systems can further reduce alienation.Integrated interventions work best in such an environment. Community youth hubs can provide safe spaces for learning, mentorship, and recreation. Peer-led awareness groups can advocate for healthy lifestyles and non-violent civic engagement. Collaboration between families, schools, and local organizations can ensure consistent guidance and early intervention for at-risk youth. Regular data collection on youth behavior, unemployment, and addiction trends can shape better policies.A young Kashmiri lost in smartphone gaming may miss out on building friendships and skills. Another, frustrated by joblessness, may turn to drugs for escape. Yet another, exposed to radical propaganda online, may drift toward militancy in search of meaning. But each of these paths can be reversed. If smartphones are used as tools for learning and creativity, if addiction is prevented through community engagement and counseling, and if radicalization is countered by hope and opportunity, the cycle can be broken.
A generation steered away from addiction, alienation, and extremism can rebuild trust, economy, and peace in the Valley. The youth of Kashmir live at the intersection of digital, substance-related, economic, and conflict-induced vulnerabilities. The solutions must therefore be holistic and empathetic, treating these issues as interwoven, not separate.Behind every statistic is a young person — a student with a smartphone, a graduate without a job, a teenager battling anxiety, a young woman searching for meaningful choices. The task ahead is enormous, but so is the opportunity. Kashmir’s youth must not become the lost generation of turmoil, but rather the generation of healing, rebuilding, and hope.The stakes are not merely individual but collective — they concern the social and moral fabric of Kashmir itself. “Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast” – the Persian version by Amir Khusrau of Mughal emperor Jahangir’s word on Kashmir is on every lip “If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.” The Kashmiri youth can make this proverb true because Kashmir is not just a place but an emotion that every person wants to experience with the vibrant activities of the Kashmiri youth .
Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee is a former Affiliate Faculty of English ,Virginia Commonwealth University USA and a multilingual Columnist and Poet. Email profratanbhattacharjee@gmail.com
