File Photo: Abid Bhat / KOBy Malik DaniyalRecently, I had the chance to sit down with a respected politician from Kashmir. The first issue was deceptively simple: why are land prices in Kashmir so high? Inflation climbs, businesses slow, people spend less and save more, and land prices keep rising. Small businesses in Kashmir feel this acutely: loans for equipment or seasonal needs come with interest that eats away already thin margins. For now, it remains a mirror, reflecting the paradox of prosperity in our times.