Srinagar, Sept. 11 -- By Syed Majid Gilani

I went to a large trading firm in Srinagar one ordinary day for some official work. The business is run by a young businessman whose faith is different from that of the majority community here. His family, which is non-Kashmiri-speaking by background, has been running the business since the time of his forefathers.

We were discussing work over coffee in his spacious office. An LCD screen on one wall showed live footage from his other offices in the city. The setting felt like any busy workplace, until a young woman in an abaya entered the room.

She spoke softly and asked whether she could leave early because of something important at home.

The businessman stopped our discussion and turned tow...