Srinagar, Feb. 8 -- Over five years after the withdrawal of Article 370, Kashmir has changed beyond recognition. Once vaunted separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference has become extinct. Many of the grouping's top leaders continue to be in jail or are under house arrest. This has hobbled its capacity to organize any political activity.

But even if the separatist leaders were free - and some of them are free - the situation would hardly be different. The government has outlawed any sign of separatist activity in whatever form and disproportionately raised the costs for any leader or an activist to go out and champion the cause.

Similarly, while Pakistan may not have reconciled to the constitutional changes in Kashmir, it has now kind ...