[remaininlight]

Kashmir Muslims were always the nicer Sufi Muslims. This is why they stayed with India after the partition. Sufi is an eclectic Islam that has some Hindu and Christian in it.

[BlackVeil]

You write: "Sufi is an eclectic Islam ... " There are indeed many Islamic traditions, some of which are inclusive, others quietistic, and others tolerant of re-interpretation and change as essential to the religion. In fact, without these many faces, Islam could not have spread beyond the Arabian peninsula. As you say, the influence of other religions is evident. One of the 12 Imams (the founders of the Shia sect) said that a strong religion is like a beautiful carpet, combining many threads from many sources.

But the problem is that rigid Islamic fundamentalism, originating from the Saudi "Wahabbi" sect, has spread everywhere, taken over many educational institutes (funded with Saudi money) and is much more energetic and fanatical than anyone else. These Pakistani supported separatists in Kashmir have it in for many Muslims, as well as Hindus etc. The future looks grim, because (what this article doesn't mention) Hindu fundamentalism is also on the rise, and the current govt of India is dominated by types who have no interest in retaining India's secular and democratic traditions. The BJP openly espouses supression of Muslims, Christians and "prohibited castes" (untouchables.) Fanatics everywhere, getting all the power.