Srinagar, July 22 -- On paper, Kashmir is developing. In reality, it's emptying out.

You don't have to go far to see the change. Construction is everywhere. Residential towers are rising in the outskirts of Srinagar, gated colonies are coming up outside Anantnag, and promotional hoardings promise smart homes in Baramulla.

Developers from Delhi, Punjab, and even Dubai are buying up land and selling visions of modernity. But take a closer look. Many of these structures are finished, or nearly so, and eerily unoccupied.

Glass balconies reflect the sun, but not life. Entire floors are dark. In some places, caretakers live alone in buildings designed for families.

This isn't progress. It's a disconnect.

What's missing isn't infrastructure...