Srinagar, Aug. 13 -- By Javed Hussain Mir

Kashmir universities are not short on brilliance. They count scientists who could compete on any international stage, students eager to learn, and public money that a decade ago would have seemed unimaginable for higher education in the valley.

Still, the region's institutions keep missing the national and international recognition that this talent alone should produce.

The easy explanations don't hold up. Blaming a shortage of ability ignores the researchers already publishing internationally out of Srinagar. And blaming money ignores the investment already flowing into labs, fellowships and infrastructure.

The real question is harder and less comfortable: does the institutional model give fa...