This article challenges misleading external portrayals of Kashmir by grounding the discussion in verified data, local voices, and on-ground realities, presenting a more nuanced picture of a region marked by resilience, stability, and gradual progress rather than perpetual conflict.

On a crisp morning in Srinagar, the Boulevard Road along Dal Lake is buzzing with life. Houseboats sparkle under the rising sun, shikaras carry tourists across the still waters and shopkeepers arrange handicrafts for curious visitors. It is hard to believe that just a decade ago, images from Kashmir mostly carried stories of shutdowns, militancy and turmoil. This transformation of peace returning, tourists arriving in record numbers, students excelling in education and entrep