Srinagar, June 15 -- For over three decades, the promise of Kashmiri Pandit return has occupied a special place in the political vocabulary of Jammu & Kashmir. Every few months, a conference is organized, a committee is constituted, a statement is issued, a package is announced, and photographs emerge of dignitaries discussing the return of the community. Yet, after all these years, one uncomfortable question remains unanswered: return to what?

The recent diaspora conference at SKICC once again brought the subject into public discourse. Such gatherings undoubtedly have value. They keep a forgotten issue alive and provide a platform for interaction. However, they also expose a contradiction that few are willing to acknowledge. The convers...