I see.
Was that before or after the revocation of Article 370 & 35A?
You must be one of the few to be let in because if memory serves Kashmir was still on Lock down.
Finally..., this interaction you speak of - was it with Muslims or just the Hindu/Sikh Community?
Both before and after, was actually worried about some of them because they're in the neighbourhood and I was wondering if they'd show up for the months where they usually set shop and do business.
Sure enough, they did show up right on schedule, and are doing business as normal, and everyone that I spoke to has no horror tales to tell or anything of the sort.
Are they happy, do they like Modi ? NO and a bigger NO !
but they're fine, and everyone they know (friends/family etc) are fine too. At least for my local ones who I spoke with.
All these interactions are with genuine sons of the soil Koshur speaking Kashmiri muslims, most of them from outside of Srinagar and from rural areas.
There is a HUGE trader community of Kashmiris who set out every winter to popular touristy locations all over India and they sell handicrafts, jewellery, carpets and all sorts of knick-knacks.
Also know some higher up in the social hierarchy folk very well, they are also not happy and greatly dislike Modi/BJP but still not pro Pak.
They are overwhelmingly genuinely
not pro Pakistan from what I see here talking to real people. They weren't very nice to your para SF in 1965, dhoka dia ! fir milega !
Conditions on the ground in post 370 abrogation Indian Kashmir are still not good enough to warrant or gamble with a military reply from Pakistan.. not even close, I would say.
As though they're going to tell you what they really think.
They would, Modi/BJP/"Hindutva" ko khul ke gaali dete hain, and they are within their rights to do so. I support that, had clear and open debates with them. This is a small sample size but they are vehemently against Mod/BJP and maybe even anti-India (if you want to frame it like that, fine)
but they are NOT pro Pakistan
can't go into details here but from highly paid Doctors in top hospitals etc to pilots in Airlines to.. just about anything you can imagine, I know Kashmir Muslims who have got there.
Also conceding that they all hate Modi/BJP/Hindu Nationalist or right wing ideology etc
but they are still not pro Pakistan, air drop your finest to try stir trouble here again. You will get the answer..