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Haleema, a disabled Kashmiri woman stands near the window of a mosque in old city Srinagar.The two decades of Kashmir conflict has left almost a 100,000 people dead. Most of them bread-earning young men who left behind their mothers, wives, sisters, and children. Thousands of women live in extreme poverty and depression. There are around 800,000 people in Kashmir who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and most include women who witnessed someone dying in their immediate or extended families
Haleema, a disabled Kashmiri woman stands near the window of a mosque in old city Srinagar.The two decades of Kashmir conflict has left almost a 100,000 people dead. Most of them bread-earning young men who left behind their mothers, wives, sisters, and children. Thousands of women live in extreme poverty and depression. There are around 800,000 people in Kashmir who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and most include women who witnessed someone dying in their immediate or extended families
Shitte muslims return their homes after the congregational commemoration of Imam Hussain the grandson of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Imam Hussain was killed by the Umayyad Caliph Yazid I at the battle of Karbala in Iraq, on october 10, 680 AD. Shias commemorate the martydom of Imam Hussain every year on the day of Ashura.
Abbas a school going kid playing outside of his home in interiors of dal lake srinagar, Kashmir.
The relic of Prophet Muhammad is displayed to thousands of devotees on the eve of Eid-i-Milad, the birth anniversary of the prophet, at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, Kashmir. Faith is believed to have been a significant source of healing for the direct and indirect victims of decades-long violence in Kashmir.
Amid dense tear gas smoke a security personnel walks past the protesters at Zaldagar area of Srinagar, Kashmir. On May 08, 2018. Government authorities imposed curfew in parts of the valley against the shutdown call given by (JRL) to protest the killings of 15 persons including armed rebels and unarmed civilians by the government forces at Kachdoora and Trukwangam in South Kashmir's District Shopian during past 56 hours.
Amid heavy rainfall, a baqarwal (nomad) family takes shelter under the roof top of a Holy Shrine in downtown Srinagar, Kashmir. Baqarwal (nomad) is a tribal community of Kashmir found in every hilly nook of the region. This tribe is also known as dhanger in several parts of India.
Dead body of a 22-year old Afroza, who died by drowning in Dal Lake. After being chased by Indian Forces during 2016 uprising.
After losing his nose in a brutal bear attack, Ali Mohammad Sofi now breathes through a blue-and-white plastic straw, which he has to clean regularly to avoid infection. He spent four months in hospital, went blind in his left eye and had to have more than 300 stitches to his face and head following the attack in Autumn 1996. Now living with his sisters, who also care for him, Sofi says: "Nothing makes sense anymore. It has been 22 years, I am stuck inside four walls of my house."
Empty liquor bottles hang on the concertina wire at the foothills of historical Hariparbat fort in Srinagar. On June 26 2014, authorities threw it open for tourists and public. The fort was opened after 24 years.
Thousands of people have been killed, thousands have disappeared and incarcerated. But there is no power on earth that can stop us for visiting the Holy shrines of sufi saints In Kashmir. Says A 45-year old Farooq Khan in old-city Srinagar, Kashmir. Thronging shrines of Sufi saints is a norm in Kashmir. Faith is believed to have been a significant source of healing for the direct and indirect victims of decades-long violence in Kashmir.
Amid bone penetrating cold Kashmiri mourners shout pro-freedom, anti-India slogans and wave Pakistani flag while carrying the dead body of Adil Sheikh. Militant belonging to Hizbul Mujhahideen outfit. In Kashmir it has become a new norm as soon as any untoward incident happens the state authorities snap mobile internet. This as they say is done to stop rumors but more likely state is trying to ensure information blackout.
Relatives and neighbours mourn the death of a militant Adil Mushtaq Mir of Lashker outfit. Adil 18-years old was a 12th class student who was killed in a gunfight with army along with his two fellow associates in South Kashmir’s Arwani Village in Kulgam district. According to official figures, government forces have killed at least 69 armed rebels in Kashmir since January this year. 213 in 2017 and 150 in 2016. In last 29 months, forces have killed 432 militants.
Xuhaib Maqbool Humza, Kashmir-based photojournalist ended up losing vision in his left eye while he was covering a protest in the old city of Srinagar during 2016 uprising. In the same year over 350 people lost their vision, totally or partially, by the profuse use of pellet guns by Indian soldiers. In June 2016 following the killing of top rebel commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani of Hizbul Mujahideen, massive uprising ensued in Kashmir resulting in the death of over 100 youth mostly teenagers in police firing. More than 18,000 got injured of which a large number has pellet injuries.
Amid bone penetrating cold, Zainab prays along with her daughter sakina at Dargah Hazratbal shrine on the eve of Shab-e-Mehraj. “The night of ascent” when the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is believed to be sprtiually transported to heaven. People in kashmir often visit the shrines for the peace of mind.
An eldery woman selling fishes on the banks of Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir.
Amid dense fog, An eldery man walks through the paddy field in the outskirts of Srinagar, Kashmir.
Faika (left) and Insha (R). Insha was asked to file some documents by the University authorities in order to acquire the Hostel Accommodation. Because of the communication clampdown, she wasn’t able to get the required documents from Kashmir, and subsequently she had no place to stay. “I tried to find other places to live, but all the landlords told me that they have been told by the police not to allot rooms to people from Kashmir” said Insha.
Omair Bhat, a student of Physiotherapy, was living in Delhi’s Tughlaqabad Extension when Articles 35-A and 370 were scrapped from the Indian Constitution and Kashmir was demoted to a Union Territory. He felt a change in the environment of his neighborhood and it was getting uncomfortable for him. “People in the neighborhood would stare at me, as if they felt that I was a Kashmiri. I was scared and felt unsafe. I had to leave my apartment eventually” said Omair Bhat. Due to the Communication blockade, which was enforced in Jammu & Kashmir on 5th of August, Omair Bhat couldn’t speak to his family for more than 25 days. His worries and longing for the family forced him to book a flight all the way back to Srinagar.
Feroz Ahmad wani posing for a picture along with her wife Rubina at their residence in Ganderbal, Kashmir. Wani, A daily-wager working for the Power Development Department (PDD) was electrocuted while repairing a transmission line in his home town Kashmir’s ganderbal district. Wani was repairing a transmission wire in his own village, when he suffered a high-voltage electrical shock with the result his right hand was amputated.
After finishing the pre-dawn prayers, Nargis in tears prays at Dargah Hazrtbal Shrine in Srinagar, Kashmir. Dargah Hazratbal holds a very high reputation by all Muslims throughout the world. Its special significance is it houses the beard hair of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Which is displayed to the public on religious occasions.
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Kashmir, India
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Sharafat Ali

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Sharafat Ali is an independent photojournalist based in Indian-administered Kashmir. He focuses on human rights issues in his home state. His work appeared in Foreign Policy, The Sunday Times, Huffington Post, Al Jazeera English, FCCHK (The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong), and many other international and national outlets.

Ali has received several awards for his projects including the Ian Parry Scholarship (Award for Achievement) 2017, College Photographer of the Year (Gold in Documentary Category) 2017, International Photography Nominee 2017 and Grand Prize at BUET Photo Society Bangladesh in 2019. He is also the winner of the Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship (TAPSA), UAE 2018, portfolio of the Fest Winner in DUPS Bangladesh 2019 and Polyphony International Photo Festival (PPIPF), and The Andrei Stenin international press photo award. In 2021, He received the Gad Schuster Grant from The Curious Society.

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