Occupied Kashmir's youngest-ever chief minister was sworn in on Monday, promising to heal the wounds of a region hit by two decades of separatist rebellion against Indian rule which has killed thousands. The 38-year-old Omar Abdullah is heir to a political dynasty that has dominated Kashmir since India's independence and the third member of his family to be elected to the troubled state's top post.
Abdullah's National Conference party, which backs greater Kashmiri autonomy but rejects separatists' calls for independence, emerged as the single biggest party in state elections that ended in late December. Despite a boycott call by separatists, the election had a turnout of more than 60 percent, a boost for New Delhi though many saw it as a vote for better governance rather than acceptance of Indian rule. On Sunday, Abdullah said he was prepared to facilitate talks between New Delhi and freedom fighters, but tempered expectations of a quick fix.