Indian Election Team Visits Kashmir

India’s top electoral officials visited the separatist state of Kashmir Wednesday to decide whether to proceed with local elections for the first time in eight years.

A general strike organized by Muslim separatists fighting for independence from India kept shops and businesses closed during the three officials’ 10-hour visit.

More than 12,000 people have died since the insurgency began in 1989 in Jammu-Kashmir, the only Muslim majority state in predominantly Hindu India. Kashmir is ruled by the federal government, which has deployed an estimated 300,000 troops in the state.

The election commission can reject the federal government’s recommendation last week to hold the ballot by mid-December. A commission spokesman said a decision would be announced today.

The federal government believes Kashmiris have grown tired of war and are ready to elect local officials to negotiate with New Delhi for limited autonomy for Kashmir.

However, many Kashmiris support the militants and object to a vote which will only elect a new state legislature. Instead, they want a plebiscite allowing them to choose independence or union with India.