Srinagar: There has been no electricity for a while now. There has been no internet. There are no newspapers either. And there is no school either. Two adults are cautiously peering out of their house as another pitched battle between the protesters and the CRPF begins. It's just another day. In another room, sits a child, he is only 13. His parents have asked him to stay put. He is used to the curfew; he is used to having his school arbitrarily shut down. He is used to violence. He has seen things that children never should. He 'knows' things that children certainly shouldn't.

Mohsin Wani, 13 years

I was always confused why my parent supported Pakistan during cricket played between India and Pakistan. I never asked them. But as I grew up, my playmates and my class fellows informed me about the Indian oppression in Kashmir and of late, day by day, I understand this fact more and more.

Danish, 12 years

India is a cunning country. They oppress us. If it would have been our own country they wouldn’t have killed so many people. We don’t like to be with India.

Mehreen, 14 years

India is killing girls in Kashmir. I saw the images on TV. I do not go out; I fear the pellets may hit me too. They blind everyone. I don’t like India. I don’t want to stay with India. They are killing everyone here. India is instilling fear in everyone. We don’t feel safe anymore.

We may view these as childish thoughts; minds that have been moulded by propaganda - but unless India can win them over, this conflict will never end. Not now, not in the near future.

So while our MPs battle it out in parliament, trading jibes with each other, they should perhaps spare a thought towards coming up with a real solution. The Congress blames the BJP, the BJP blames the Congress. Together they blame Pakistan. And in this blame game, we are losing the children of Kashmir and the children are losing their childhood.